Year: 2026 | Month: April-June | Volume: 10 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 38-43
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/gijash.20260206
Perceived Stress and Mental Health during the Menstrual Cycle in Adolescents in Selected College
P. Sreedevi Annapoorna1, Dr. S. Swarna2
1Senior Tutor, 2 Associate Professor,
College of Nursing, SVIMS University, Tirupati, AP, India.
Corresponding Author: P. Sreedevi Annapoorna
ABSTRACT
The present study aimed to assess the mental health status and perceived stress among adolescent girls during the menstrual cycle. A descriptive research design was adopted, and data was collected from students, the majority of whom (59%) were in the age group of 17–18 years. Most participants (73%) had a normal Body Mass Index, and the mean age at menarche was 14 years.
The findings revealed that 43.4% of the respondents experienced mild mental health issues, while 21.1% and 35.6% reported moderate and severe mental health problems, respectively. In terms of perceived stress, 44.2% of participants reported moderate stress, followed by 30.2% with mild stress and 25.6% with severe stress. The mean perceived stress score was 18.79, indicating a moderate level of stress, while the mean mental health status score was 40.37, reflecting variability in psychological well-being among participants.
Item-wise analysis showed that feelings of nervousness, anger, and lack of control were prominent stress-related experiences. Additionally, physical symptoms such as headache (mean = 2.45), isolation (mean = 2.24), and stress before menstruation (mean = 2.16) were the most commonly reported concerns. Both physical discomfort and psychosocial factors, including withdrawal behavior and limited communication about menstrual issues, were found to significantly influence mental health.
The study concludes that although mild mental health issues are most common, a considerable proportion of adolescents experience moderate to severe stress and psychological distress during menstruation. These findings highlight the need for increased awareness, menstrual health education, and supportive interventions to improve the mental well-being of adolescent girls.
Keywords: Menstrual cycle, mental health, perceived stress, adolescents, menstruation, psychological well-being
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