Authors
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Dysmenorrhea is one of the common problems of women at the childbearing age and has social, psychological, physical and economic consequences. As emotional factors influence physical conditions and the perception of pain, this study was conducted at the University of Mashad, Iran to compare the personality features of medical students with and without early dysmenorrheal.
Methods and Materials: This is a descriptive analytical and cross-sectional study and the study population was the female medical students at Mashad University of Medical Sciences in 2004. 200 students were proportionately sampled using a subject selection form. They also filled out the interview checklist, the lifestyle questionnaire and the Cassidy Social Support Form. On specific days, the menses pain intensity form, history of menses form and Eysenk Personality Questionnaire were completed. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS using Chi square, Fischer’s Exact Test, t-test, Mann Whitney and Regression model.
Results: Significant differences were found between the two groups as for the frequency of introversion: in the group with dysmenorrhea 67% and the other group only 12% were introverts. In addition, the frequency of neurosis was statistically different across the two groups (52% in the group with dysmenorrhea and 10% in the other group). Also the two groups were statistically different in the prevalence of psychosis (72% versus 32% for the group with and without dysmenorrheal respectively).
Conclusion: Introversion, psychosis and neurosis were more prevalent in women with dysmenorrhea than in women without dysmenorrhea.
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