The Attitudes of Unmarried Young Girls Towards Dysmenorrhea

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Background: Dysmenorrhea, or painful menstruation, is a common problem among young women. It negatively impacts school attendance, academic performance, daily activities, and interpersonal relationships. Understanding young women’s menstrual attitudes is crucial to addressing the physical and psychological challenges associated with this condition. The study was conducted with the aim of determining the attitudes of unmarried young girls towards dysmenorrhea. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 330 unmarried female students at Sankalchand Patel University, North Gujarat, India, between January and July 2024. Stratified sampling method was used. Informed consent was obtained prior to data collection. Participants completed an Individual Description Form, the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ), and the Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis tests, correlation, and multiple regression analysis. Results: The mean age of participants was 20.6 ± 1.86 years. Dysmenorrhea caused 6.6% of students to regularly miss college and 48.6% to miss occasionally. About 45% used medication, while 51.1% used traditional or complementary methods, most commonly heat application. The mean MDQ score was 65.91 ± 36.65, with negative feelings being the most affected subdomain. The mean Menstrual Attitude Scale score was 65.91 ± 36.65, and a weak but significant positive correlation was observed between MDQ and Menstrual Attitude scores (r = 0.266, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Dysmenorrhea was highly prevalent among young women, significantly affecting daily activities and school attendance. A positive menstrual attitude was associated with fewer dysmenorrhea complaints. Education programs promoting positive menstrual attitudes, reproductive health counseling for adolescents and their mothers, school-based guidance, and stress management support may help alleviate symptoms. Further research with broader samples is recommended.

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