Original Research Article
Year: 2014 | Month: February | Volume: 4 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 116-123
Premenstrual Symptoms and Academic Performance among Adolescent Girls
P. Padmavathi1, S. Raja Sankar2, N. Kokilavani3
1Principal, Dhanvantri College of Nursing, Ganapathypuram, Ranganoor Road, Muniyappan kovil, Pallakkapalyam,
Namakkal District - 637 303; Tamil Nadu.
2Associate Professor, Melmaruvathur Adhiparasakthi Institute of Medical Sciences (MAPIMS), Melmaruvathur.
3Principal, Adhiparasakthi College of Nursing, Melmaruvathur.
Corresponding Author: P. Padmavathi
ABSTRACT
Background: Premenstrual syndrome is a psychophysiological stress induced disorder. Stress disturbs the balance of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Changes in heart rate and blood pressure are the most important physiological response following stress.
Objectives: To correlate the premenstrual symptoms and academic performance among adolescent girls.
Design: A correlational survey was adopted for the study Setting: Higher secondary school, Namakkal District. Participants: 60 adolescent girls fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected by simple random sampling technique.
Methods: All participants were given a questionnaire to complete; questions were related to Baseline Proforma of adolescent girls, rating scale on the common premenstrual symptoms, Student life stress Inventory, Academic Demand Distress were given 40 minutes to complete the questionnaire.
Results: The findings revealed that, there was significantly higher numbers of symptoms perceived 8.46±2.9 follicular and 7.14±2.8, luteal, p=.001 and higher distress (1.25±0.41 follicular and 1.52±0.31 luteal, p=.003) in the follicular phase than in the luteal phase. The academic demand component of academic stress measured daily frequency and distress associated with assignments, papers, projects/presentation and time studying. Within the follicular phase number of assignments due was significantly correlated to symptom perception and distress (.41, .31, respectively) and the number of projects/presentations due was correlated to symptom distress (.29) at p<.05. There were significant correlations between follicular phase symptom perception and distress, and luteal phase symptom distress with academic demand distress. Conclusion: There was significant correlation between premenstrual symptoms and academic performance.
Key words: Academic performance, Academic Distress, adolescents, Premenstrual syndrome