Decision Making Process and Related Factors in Adolescents with Premenstrual Syndrome

Decision making for adopting a health behavior is a process involving passing through different stages. This study was conducted to determine the decision making stages based on Precaution Adoption Process Model (PAPM) in female students with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). In this quasi-experimental within-subjects study, the PAPM stages were assessed in 317 high school students with PMS, who were exposed to an educational intervention based on PMS concepts. Decision making stages before and after the educational intervention were assessed based on PAPM. All the participants in pretest assessment were at the stage 0 of decision making. None of them had changed her decision making stage during a one-week posttest assessment. After exposure to educational intervention, about 10.1% were assessed as stage two, 26.8% were in stage three, 1.9% reached stage four, and 61.2% were at stage five. In a regression model, PMS scores could predict 2% of variance in decision making stages. PMS severity and sign interference with social and school performance had a significant correlation with the individual’s decision making stage (p < 0.05). Adolescent girls with PMS are not in the same stage of decision making after exposure to educational intervention and obtaining the necessary knowledge about PMS. Based on this finding, the design of educational interventions for PMS students must be stage-based. Perceived severity of PMS symptoms and PMS sign interference with school and social activities are among the variables that can be considered as PAPM constructs.