Abstract
The objectives of this study are to investigate menstrual experiences and to identify physical and psychosocial factors affecting perimenstrual changes, menstrual attitudes and self-care behaviors among junior college students. Data were collected longitudinally for two years. Participants are 1,045 junior college students aged 18-22 years old. All participants gave informed consent before participating in this study. The questionnaire consisted of scales regarding menstrual experiences; menstrual condition, perimenstrual changes, menstrual pain and self-care behavior, menstrual attitude and related factors; self-esteem, optimism/pessimism tendency, satisfaction of gender role, and life-style. Over 90% students experienced menstrual pain and 98.4% students experienced negative perimenstrual changes while only a few students experienced positive changes. About one-fourth of the students continued to experience negative perimenstrual changes and a negative attitude toward menstruation during the perimenstrual period over the 2-year observation.
