Investigation of the relationship between dysmenorrhoea, mindfulness and anger in adolescents

Dysmenorrhoea is defined as painful menstruation seen in women during the reproductive age. Dysmenorrhoea is a common gynaecological problem in adolescents and decreases the quality of life. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between dysmenorrhoea, mindfulness and anger in adolescents. The population of the study consisted of 247 students studying at Çamlıtepe Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in Körfez district of Kocaeli province. Descriptive and menstrual characteristics questionnaire, Functional and Emotional Dysmenorrhoea Scale (FEDS), Mindfulness Awareness Scale (MBAS) and State Anger Scale were used as data collection tools. The data obtained in the study were evaluated by using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0 (SPSS INC. Chicago, IL, USA) statistical programme. Frequency and percentage analyses, mean and standard deviation statistics were used to examine the scale. Kurtosis and Skewness values were analysed to determine whether the research variables were normally distributed. Independent groups t-test, one-way analysis of variance (Anova) and post hoc (Tukey, LSD) analyses were used to examine the differences in scale levels according to the descriptive characteristics of the students. According to the results obtained from the study, the prevalence of dysmenorrhoea in adolescents was found to be 89.5%. The total score of FEDÖ was 42.939±12.200; the total score of BIFÖ was 53.279±13.348 and the state anger score was 23.417±7.719. The correlation between mindfulness total and functional and emotional dysmenorrhoea total was found to be r=-0.53 negative moderate (p<0.05), between state anger total and functional and emotional dysmenorrhoea total r=0.536 positive moderate (p<0.05), between state anger total and mindfulness total r=-0.552 negative moderate (p<0.05). Regression analysis to determine the cause and effect relationship between functional and emotional dysmenorrhoea, mindfulness and state anger was found to be significant (p<0.05). Dysmenorrhoea may affect daily life physically, socially and psychologically. Accordingly, school absenteeism increases in adolescents. Adolescents can be trained on methods of coping with dysmenorrhoea. Conscious awareness trainings can be given in schools.