A Structural Model for Premenstrual Coping in University Students: Based on Biopsychosocial Model

생물심리사회모델에 근거한 여대생의 월경전증후군 대처 예측모형

Purpose: The aims of this study were to construct a hypothetical structural model which explains premenstrual coping in university students and to test the fitness with collected data. Methods: Participants were 206 unmarried women university students from 3 universities in A and B cities. Data were collected from March 29 until April 30, 2016 using self-report structured questionnaires and were analyzed using IBM SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 18.0. Results: Physiological factor was identified as a significant predictor of premenstrual syndrome (t=6.45, p<.001). This model explained 22.1% of the variance in premenstrual syndrome. Psychological factors (t=-2.49, p=.013) and premenstrual syndrome (t=8.17, p<.001) were identified as significant predictors of premenstrual coping. Also this model explained 30.9% of the variance in premenstrual coping in university students. A physiological factors directly influenced premenstrual syndrome (${\beta}=.41$, p=.012). Premenstrual syndrome (${\beta}=.55$, p=.005) and physiological factor (${\beta}=.23$, p=.015) had significant total effects on premenstrual coping. Physiological factor did not have a direct influence on premenstrual coping, but indirectly affected it (${\beta}=.22$, p=.007). Psychological factors did not have an indirect or total effect on premenstrual coping, but directly affected it (${\beta}=-.17$, p=.036). Conclusion: These findings suggest that strategies to control physiological factors such as menstrual pain should be helpful to improve premenstrual syndrome symptoms. When developing a program to improve premenstrual coping ability and quality of menstrual related health, it is important to consider psychological factors including perceived stress and menstrual attitude and premenstrual syndrome.