The measurement of menstrual symptoms: factor structure of the menstrual symptom questionnaire in adolescent girls

Sonya Negriff, Lorah D Dorn, Jennifer B Hillman, Bin Huang, Sonya Negriff, Lorah D Dorn, Jennifer B Hillman, Bin Huang

Abstract

This study examined the factor structure of the Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire (MSQ) in a sample of 210 adolescent girls (11-17 years). Such an examination has not been carried out with an adolescent sample. In addition, the definitions of menstrual disorders have evolved since the creation of the MSQ. Exploratory factor analysis supported a three factor structure indicating abdominal pain, negative affect/somatic complaints, and back pain. Partial correlations indicated all three MSQ factors were correlated with depressive symptoms, but only the negative affect factor was correlated with trait anxiety. Future research should explore potential associations in multiple areas of functioning as menstrual symptoms may alter healthy developmental processes during adolescence.

Conflict of interest statement

COMPETING INTERESTS: None declared.

References

    1. Alonso C, Coe CL. Disruptions of social relationships accentuate the association between emotional distress and menstrual pain in young women. Health Psychology. 2001;20(6):411–416.
    1. Alvin PE, Litt IF. Current status of the etiology and management of dysmenorrhea in adolescence. Pediatrics. 1982;70(4):516–525.
    1. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. ACOG Compendium of selected publications. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Washington, DC: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; 2000. ACOG Practice Bulletin: Premenstrual syndrome; pp. 1057–1064.
    1. Andersch B, Milsom I. An epidemiological study of young women with dysmenorrhea. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1982;144:655–660.
    1. Anderson SE, Dallal GE, Must A. Relative weight and race influence average age at menarche: results from two nationally representative surveys of US girls studied 25 years apart. Pediatrics. 2003;111(4):844–850.
    1. Balbi C, Musone R, Menditto A, Di Prisco L, Cassese E, D’Ajello M, et al. Influence of menstrual factors and dietary habits on menstrual pain in adolescence age. European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 2000;91:143–148.
    1. Banikarim C, Chacko MR, Kelder SH. Prevalence and impact of dysmenorrhea on Hispanic female adolescents. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. 2000;154(12):1226–1229.
    1. Bryant FB, Yarnold PR. Principal-components analysis and exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. In: Grimm LG, Yarnold PR, editors. Reading and understanding multivariate statistics. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association; 1995. pp. 99–136.
    1. Chesney MA, Tasto DL. The development of the Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire. Behavior Research & Therapy. 1975;13:237–244.
    1. Dalton K. The premenstrual syndrome. Springfield, IL: Thomas; 1964.
    1. Dalton K. The menstrual cycle. New York: Pantheon Books; 1969.
    1. Davis AR, Westhoff C, O’Connell K, Gallagher N. Oral contraceptives for dysmenorrhea in adolescent girls: a randomized trial. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2005;106:97–104.
    1. Davis AR, Westhoff CL. Primary dysmenorrhea in adolescent girls and treatment with oral contraceptives. Journal of Pediatric Adolescent Gynecology. 2001;14(1):3–8.
    1. Dawood MY. Current concepts in the etiology and treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. 1986;138:7–10.
    1. Friederich MA. Dysmenorrhea. Women and Health. 1983;8(2–3):91–106.
    1. Harel Z. Dysmenorrhea in adolescents and young adults: Etiology and management. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. 2006;19:363–371.
    1. Hendrix SL, Alexander NJ. Primary dysmenorrhea treatment with a desogestrel-containing low-dose oral contraceptive. Contraception. 2002;66(6):393–399.
    1. Herman-Giddens ME. Puberty is starting earlier in the 21st century. In: Pescovitz OH, Walvoord EC, editors. When puberty is precocious. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press; 2007. pp. 105–134.
    1. Hillen TI, Grbavac SL, Johnston PJ, Straton JA, Keogh JM. Primary dysmenorrhea in young Western Australian women: prevalence, impact, and knowledge of treatment. Journal of Adolescent Health. 1999;25(1):40–45.
    1. Hollingshead AF. Four factor index of social status: Manual. New Haven, CT: Department of Sociology, Yale University; 1976.
    1. Jamieson DJ, Steege JF. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, pelvic pain, and irritable bowel syndrome in primary care practices. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1996;87(1):55–58.
    1. Johnson J. Level of knowledge among adolescent girls regarding effective treatment for dysmenorrhea. Journal of Adolescent Health Care. 1988;9(5):398–402.
    1. Klein JR, Litt IF. Epidemiology of adolescent dysmenorrhea. Pediatrics. 1981;68(5):661–664.
    1. Kovacs M. Rating scales to assess depression in school-aged children. Acta Paedopsychiatrica: International Journal of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 1981;46(5–6):305–315.
    1. Kovacs M. Child depression inventory manual. Toronto: Multi-Health System; 1992.
    1. Monagle LA, Dan AJ, Chatterton RT, DeLeon-Jones FA, Hudgens GA. Toward delineating menstrual symptom groupings: Examination of factor analytic results of menstrual symptom instruments. Health Care for Women International. 1986;7(1–2):131–143.
    1. Murray L. Dysmenorrhea: new theory, new therapy. Sexual Medicine Today. 1981 Sep;:6–14.
    1. O’Connell K, Davis AR, Westhoff C. Self-treatment patterns among adolescent girls with dysmenorrhea. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. 2006;19(4):285–289.
    1. O’Connor BP. SPSS and SAS programs for determining the number of components using parallel analysis and Velicer’s MAP test. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments & Computers. 2000;32(3):396–402.
    1. Spielberger CD. Preliminary manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (‘How I Feel Questionnaire’) Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press; 1973.
    1. Spielberger CD, Gorusch RL, Lushene RE. STAI Manual. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologist Press; 1970.
    1. Stephenson LA, Denney DR, Arberger EW. Factor structure of the Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire: Relationship to oral contraceptives, neuroticism and life stress. Behavior Research & Therapy. 1983;21(2):129–135.
    1. Sundell G, Milsom I, Andersch B. Factors influencing the prevalence and severity of dysmenorrhoea in young women. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1990;97:588–594.
    1. Velicer WF. Determining the number of components from the matrix of partial correlations. Psychometrika. 1976;41(3):321–327.
    1. Webster SK, Martin HJ, Uchalik D, Gannon L. The Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire and spasmodic/congestive dysmenorrhea: Measurement of an invalid construct. Journal of Behavioral Medicine. 1979;2(1):1–19.
    1. Widholm O. Dysmenorrhea during adolescence. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. 1979;87:61–66.
    1. Wildman BG, White PA. Assessment of dysmenorrhea using the Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire: Factor structure and validity. Behavior Research & Therapy. 1986;24(5):547–551.
    1. Wilson CA, Keye WR., Jr A survey of adolescent dysmenorrhea and premenstrual symptom frequency. A model program for prevention, detection, and treatment. Journal of Adolescent Health Care. 1989;10(4):317–322.

Source: PubMed

Sponsoren und Mitarbeiter

Krankheiten

Drogeninterventionen

3
Abonnieren