A comprehensive investigation of biopsychosocial determinants influencing primary dysmenorrhea among university students

ABSTRACT

Dysmenorrhea, characterized by pain and related symptoms, significantly impacts women’s quality of life in work and education, prompting a comprehensive evaluation of associated factors. The objective of this study was to utilize structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze and assess the biopsychosocial factors influencing dysmenorrhea among university students. Three hundred and thirty-nine university students were included in this cross-sectional descriptive study. Data were collected using the Participant Information Form, the Beck Anxiety Scale (BAS), the Beck Depression Scale (BDS), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale (ACES), the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). It was determined that the variables of pain onset (t = 3.24, p < .05) and age at menarche (t = -2.16, p < .05) showed a significant relationship with the model. The variables of the PCS (t = 16.87, p < .001), BDS (t = 3.06, p < .05), and BAS (t = 5.13, p < .001) showed a significant relationship with the model. Social factors in the model were examined, and a family history of dysmenorrhea and the ACES variables did not contribute significantly to the model (p > .05). The study indicates primary dysmenorrhea influenced by biological and psychological factors. Nurses should conduct holistic assessments and provide comprehensive care for affected women.

KEYWORDS:

• Anxiety
• depression
• dysmenorrhea
• obstetric nursing
• pain catastrophizing
• social support

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all the students who agreed to participate in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The datasets generated during the current study are not publicly available due to the agreement made with the participants but are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2024.2349558

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.