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Abstract
Purpose
This paper presented a descriptive study which aimed to identify the relationship amongmenstrual attitude, premenstrual distress and premenstrual coping in Korean college women and to propose fundamental data for the development of guidelines for effective management of premenstrual distress.
Methods
The data were collected from 111 college women and analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation coefficients.
Results
The mean score of premenstrual coping was 3.25±0.60 out of 5 points. The 'Awareness and Acceptance of Premenstrual Change' score was highest and the 'Avoiding Harm' score was lowest.Menstrual attitude was significantly related to premenstrual distress (r=.37 p<.001) and the awareness and acceptance style of premenstrual coping (r=-.21. p=.021). And premenstrual distress was significantly related to the self-care coping style of premenstrual coping (r=.30, p=.001), the adjusting energy coping style of premenstrual coping (r=.45, p<.001) and the avoiding harm coping style of premenstrual coping (r=.48, p<.001).
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Table 1.
General and Menstrual related Characteristics of Participants (N=111)
Table 2.
Premenstrual Coping of Participants (N=111)
| Coping Style | Coping items | M±SD |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 3.25±0.60 | |
| Awareness and acceptance of premenstrual change | I know that other women go through this | 4.07±0.85 |
| I am aware that my premenstrual changes are only temporary | 4.02±0.93 | |
| I am aware of my bodily changes | 3.91±0.88 | |
| I think that my premenstrual changes are a normal part of a woman's experience | 3.72±0.97 | |
| I am aware of my emotional changes | 3.69±1.06 | |
| I think it is okay that my physical needs may be different | 3.69±0.89 | |
| I accept my changeable moods | 3.35±1.12 | |
| I know what I need to do to support myself | 3.24±1.02 | |
| I think it is okay to be feeling differently when I am premenstrual | 3.04±1.14 | |
| I think it is okay to be more emotional or sensitive when I am premenstrual | 3.00±1.17 | |
| Sub M±SD | 3.57±0.66 | |
| Subtotal | 35.73±6.61 | |
| Self care | I allow myself extra time to rest | 3.95±0.93 |
| I do things to make myself more comfortable | 3.82±0.98 | |
| I spend time doing things that help me relax. e.g. have a bath, massage, read a book | 3.20±1.21 | |
| I take time to focus on my own needs | 3.04±1.17 | |
| Sub M±SD | 3.50±0.85 | |
| Subtotal | 14.00±3.43 | |
| Adjusting energy | I eat more sugary foods | 3.89±1.09 |
| I exercise less | 3.42±1.17 | |
| I focus less on the needs of others | 2.99±0.97 | |
| I decrease my social activities | 2.95±1.06 | |
| I vent my feelings through emotional outbursts | 2.95±1.11 | |
| Sub M±SD | 3.23±0.72 | |
| Subtotal | 16.19±3.62 | |
| Communicating | I feel confident to tell people how I feel | 3.16±1.14 |
| I feel confident to tell people what I need | 3.09±1.04 | |
| I try not to express how I am feeling† | 3.08±1.07 | |
| I tell others about how I am feeling | 3.07±1.06 | |
| I ask for help from others | 2.63±1.14 | |
| Sub M±SD | 3.00±0.83 | |
| Sub total | 15.03±4.19 | |
| Avoiding harm | I avoid people that have the potential to provoke me | 3.00±1.16 |
| I avoid situations that have the potential to provoke me | 3.00±1.12 | |
| I avoid raising topics that have the potential to create conflict | 2.98±1.15 | |
| I avoid having conversations that are liable to upset me | 2.91±1.16 | |
| I remove myself from a situation if it starts to provoke me | 2.86±1.14 | |
| I challenge my negative thoughts | 2.85±1.25 | |
| I avoid situations where I know I will feel vulnerable | 2.80±1.07 | |
| I try to avoid dealing with difficult family issues | 2.70±1.21 | |
| Sub M±SD | 2.88±0.97 | |
| Subtotal | 23.10±7.80 |
Table 3.
Levels of Premenstrual Distress and Menstrual Attitude by General and Menstrual Characteristics (N=111)
Table 4.
Relationships among Premenstrual Coping, Premenstrual Distress, and Menstrual Attitude (N=111)
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