[The relationship between dysmenorrhea and menstrual attitudes among female students in vocational nursing schools].

This research involved a cross-sectional investigation. An Essential background questionnaire and the Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ) were used in the study. The purpose was to explore the relationship between dysmenorrhea and menstrual attitudes among female students in vocational nursing schools. Data collection was performed by questionnaire in school classes. Data were recorded using Microsoft Excel, and analyzed by JMP5.0. Essential background information was compared by t-test and Chi-square test, and menstrual attitudes by t-test. Eight hundred and five students answered the questionnaire, and 760 responses (94.4%) were valid. Among the valid sample, 557 respondents (73.3%) had experienced dysmenorrhea during the previous half year. This group was named the dysmenorrhea group. The other 203 students (26.7%) who had experienced no dysmenorrhea during the previous half year were called the non-dysmenorrhea group. Results of the study showed that the dysmenorrhea group agreed that "Menstruation is a debilitating event," and on the importance of "Anticipation and prediction of the onset of menstruation" more than the non-dysmenorrhea group. Markedly more of the non-dysmenorrhea group than of the dysmenorrhea group that agreed, "Menstruation has no effect". As to the propositions that "Menstruation is a bothersome event," and "Menstruation is a natural event," there were no significant differences between the two groups.