2018 Volume 68 Issue 1 Pages 19-30
Objective: The objective of this study was to develop a “Self-Management Scale of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) during Childrearing Periods” for mothers currently raising children and to examine the validity and reliability of the scale. Methods: Participants included mothers aged 20 to 44 with children six or under. We distributed anonymous, self-administered questionnaires to 1,640 mothers and received 878 responses; 797 were selected for analysis. The questionnaire included 48 items measuring symptoms that accompany PMS during childrearing periods. Results: Five factors were extracted from the 38-items following exploratory factor analyses using principle and promax rotation: (1) feeling of emotional instability before menstruation, (2) positive emotional changes after menstruation, (3) perception of husband's support before and after menstruation, (4) reduced energy before menstruation, and (5) unpleasant physical symptoms before menstruation. The scale positively correlated with the Parenting Stress Short Form and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and negatively correlated with the social support scale, confirming criterion validity. The Cronbach's α (0.79 to 0.94) and split-half reliability (ρ= 0.74) suggest that the scale is reliable. Conclusions: The scale developed in this study is valid and reliable, suggesting usefulness for PMS self-management for mothers currently raising children.
