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Lee: Impact of Perfectionism and Testing Anxiety on the Menstrual Cycle during Test Evaluations among High School Girls
Original Article
Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing

Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing 2008; 14(4): 314-322.

Published online: 31 December 2008

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2008.14.4.314

Impact of Perfectionism and Testing Anxiety on the Menstrual Cycle during Test Evaluations among High School Girls

Hae-Kyung Lee1

1Professor, Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Lee, Hae-Kyung(Corresponding Author). Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, Kangwon National University, 192-1 Whewja-dong, Chunchon 200-701, Korea. Tel: 82-33-250-8881, Fax: 82-33-242-8840, leehk@kangwon.ac.kr

Received 5 October 2008       Accepted 9 December 2008

Copyright © 2008 Korean Academy of Women's Health Nursing

Abstract

Purpose

Dysmenorrhea is one of the most common gynecologic complaints of young women. This study investigated the changes in the menstrual cycle during test evaluations according to perfectionism and testing anxiety among high school girls in order to provide information for care of dysmenorrhea.

Method

Data collection was done from July 14 to 18, 2008 by self administered questionnaires with 300 high school girls.

Result

The subjects experienced amenorrhea (35.3%), changes in the menstrual cycle (66.3%), changes in menstrual duration (50.0%), changes in amount of menstruation (47.7%), and increases in menstrual pain during testing evaluations. There were significant differences in changes of menstrual patterns, physical symptoms, and menstrual pain during test evaluations between a high perfectionist group and low perfectionist group. Also, there were significant differences in changes of menstrual patterns, physical symptoms, and menstrual pain during test evaluations between a high testing anxiety group and low testing anxiety group. Perfectionism and testing anxiety showed a positive relationship with changes in menstrual patterns, physical symptoms, and menstrual pain.

Conclusion

As perfectionism and testing anxiety seem to contribute to changes in the menstrual cycle during test evaluations, school health-care providers should screen routinely for dysmenorrhea and give more attention to health education on this topic to girls.

Keywords: Perfectionism, Testing anxiety, Changes of the menstrual conditions

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Menstrual patterns of subjects (N=300)
kjwhn-14-314-i001
Table 2
Physical symptoms and menstrual pain of subjects (N=300)
kjwhn-14-314-i002
Table 3
Changes of menstrual patterns during test evaluations (N=300)
kjwhn-14-314-i003
Table 4
Changes of physical symptoms and menstrual pain during test evaluations (N=300)
kjwhn-14-314-i004
Table 5
Changes of menstrual patterns, physical symptoms, and menstrual pain between low perfectionism group and high perfectionism group during test evaluations (N=300)
kjwhn-14-314-i005
Table 6
Changes in menstrual patterns, physical symptoms, and menstrual pain between low testing anxiety group and high testing anxiety group during test evaluations (N=300)
kjwhn-14-314-i006
Table 7
Relationships among the study variables (N=300)
kjwhn-14-314-i007

* p<.05 ** p<.01

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