[Relationships between sex role identity, health promoting behaviors, and premenstrual symptoms among female university students].
OBJECTIVE
The role of sex role identity types and health promoting behaviors in relation to premenstrual symptoms and interrelatedness among the three variables were examined.


METHODS
A cross sectional descriptive study was employed with 327 female university students. KSRI, HPLP, and MDQ were used as measurement tools.


RESULTS
Four types of sex role identities were classified; undifferentiated(33.7%), androgyny (32.7%), masculinity(16.8%), and femininity(16.8%) in order. Premenstrual symptoms(F=3.11, p= .027) and health promoting behaviors(F=12.74, p= .000) were significantly different by sex role identity types. As determinants of premenstrual symptoms, health promoting behaviors for all subjects, stress coping for the feminine type, and interpersonal relationships for the undifferentiated type were identified. In discriminating between the feminine type and undifferentiated type, premenstrual symptoms and self responsibility were shown as significant factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Interrelatedness among sex role identity, health promoting behaviors and premenstrual symptoms imply the importance of a psychosocial aspect in premenstrual symptoms. Therefore, these three variables should be applied more specifically for nursing assessment and management of women having premenstrual symptoms.
Kim
Hae Won
HW
Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, Kwandong University, Gangreung, Kangwondo, Korea. hwkim@kd.ac.kr
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities