An Analysis on the Relationship Between Premenstrual Syndrome and Aggression Tendencies among Turkish Adolescent Girls

Abstract

Premenstrual syndrome affects women’s physical, psychological, and social health negatively. Moreover it causes behavioral disorders such as anger, crime, and aggression tendencies. However, there is a limited number of studies in the literature which examined the relationship between premenstrual syndrome and crime, aggression, or violence. The objective of this study was to identify the relationship between premenstrual syndrome and aggression tendencies. This is a descriptive study. The 774 voluntary adolescent girls studying at a state university in Turkey constituted the sample of the research. The mean age of adolescent girls was 19.05 ± 1.64. The mean age of first menstruation for the participants was 13.35 ± 1.23. It was determined that 58.3% of the participants had premenstrual syndrome. Premenstrual syndrome intensity levels were higher among adolescent girls whose menstruation interval was < 28 days, those who had “irregular” menstrual cycles, those who found their menstruation-related knowledge “inadequate”, those diagnosed with “anemia” and those who thought their anger / aggression tendencies increased in their “premenstrual period” (p<0.05). And aggression tendencies increased among adolescent girls as the intensity of premenstrual syndrome increased (p<0.05). Health professionals premenstural symptoms were carefully evaluated and individualized care and treatment plans created.