Abstract
Purpose
To examine the reality of menstruation-related symptoms among women raising infants in various stages of menstruation, and identify changes in their handling of their children through a menstruation cycle, broken down by the types of menstruation-related symptoms: To study whether the types of menstruation-related symptoms could cause variations in the mothers' sleeping status, health status, perception of parenting support, sense of satisfaction in life and feelings toward parenting.
Methods
The study distributed questionnaires to 192 women currently raising infants concerning their menstruation-related symptoms and handling of the children during different stages of a menstruation cycle (follicular phase, luteal phase and menstruation period). At the time of the initial survey, the samples were also asked about their sleeping status, health status, perception of parenting support, sense of satisfaction in life and feelings toward parenting. Statistical analysis was conducted on 172 valid responses (89.6%).
Results
1. According to the types of menstruation-related symptoms, the samples (with the average age of 35.6) were divided into those with minor symptoms (60 samples, 34.9%), those with the tendency of period pain (29 samples, 16.9%), those with a PEMS tendency (53 samples, 30.8%) and those with a PMS tendency (30 samples, 17.4%).
2. As for their handling of children, broken down by the types of menstruation-related symptoms, the group with a PEMS tendency returned significantly lower scores in emotional and nurturing attitudes during the menstruation period.
3. Compared to other groups, the group with the PEMS tendency had a greater proportion of samples who reported proneness to tiredness and health conditions. This group, compared to the group with lighter menstruation-related symptoms, returned a significantly lower score in "husband's participation/cooperation in parenting" in the question concerning their perception of parenting support. The score indicating their level of satisfaction in the past and present life was also significantly low.
Conclusion
The breakdown of menstruation-related symptoms among matured women raising infants has indicated the possibility that many of them have a PEMS tendency, which is considered to be more typical among women in their teens to early 20s. Those with a PEMS tendency are likely, during the menstruation period, to suffer a compromised capacity in handling children, feel that their husband do not provide sufficient support, and indicate a low level of satisfaction in life. These findings point to the need to, when formulating parenting support, identify menstruation-related symptoms of applicable women, and consider extending assistance in reducing the symptoms.
