Comparison of Health Promoting Lifestyle and Self-Efficacy in Female Students with and Without Primary Dysmenorrhea

Primary dysmenorrhea is one of the most common complaints in adolescent and young women which can have negative effects on their daily activities. Therefore, to improve their life style, preservation and advancement of their health status seems to be necessary. This aim of this study was to compare health promoting lifestyle and self-efficacy in females with and without primary dysmenorrhea.

This was a cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study. The study population were 370 students of the Faculty of Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch. Data was collected using a four-part questionnaire: personal and menstrual characteristic, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), health promoting behaviors questionnaire and self-efficacy. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 21 by descriptive statics, independent t-test, chi squared and ANOVA.

The mean (SD) of Health promoting lifestyle were respectively 2.67 (0.45) and 2.77 (0.47) in students with and without primary dysmenorrhea. The mean (SD) of self-efficacy were respectively 2.88 (0.61) and 2.81 (0.54) in students with and without primary dysmenorrhea. There were significant differnces between the two groups regarding total score of health promoting lifestyle (P= 0.03), aspects of physical activity (P0.02), stress management (P=0.02) and spiritual growth (P=0.03),. However, there was no significant difference regarding self-efficacy in students with and without dysmenorrhea (P=0.2).

Total score of health promoting lifestyle in females with dysmenorrhea was lower than those without dysmenorrhea. Therefore, we could help these girls significantly with increasing awareness, educating and providing appropriate methods to improve their lifestyle.