Menarche: responses of adolescent females

Date
1987
DOI
Authors
McGrory, Arlene A.
Version
Embargo Date
Indefinite
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the responses of menarcheal age early adolescent girls. The three dependent variables were attitudes toward menstruation, overall self-esteem, and physical self-esteem. Furthermore, this study investigated the perception of pubertal changes in premenarcheal girls and recency of menarche in postmenarcheal girls in relation to the same three dependent variables. A demographic information form, Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale-Overall Score and Physical Appearance and Attribute subscale and Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire were used to collect the data. The sample for this study consisted of 95 girls in seventh, eighth, and ninth grades (11-15 years old) at Masconomet Regional Junior-Senior High School. The subjects completed the forms during a convenient time at school or mailed in the forms. The data was analyzed using a two-tailed Student's t test and Pearson product moment correlation was calculated and the coefficient tested. The results indicated that premenarcheal girls thought menstruation was more debilitating than postmenarcheal girls. There were no differences in overall self-esteem or physical self-esteem in premenarcheal and postmenarcheal girls. Postmenarcheal girls who had been menstruating the longest had the highest scores on factor three Henstruation as a Natural Event, factor four Anticipation of the Onset of Menstruation, and factor five Denial of any Effect of Menstruation of the Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire. Recency of menarche had no effect on overall self-esteem and physical self-esteem. It was not possible to measure differences in attitudes toward menstruation, overall self-esteem and physical self-esteem in premenarcheal girls who perceived pubertal changes and those who did not perceive pubertal changes.
Description
Thesis (D.N.S.)--Boston University
PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you.
License