Effect of Academic Stress, Body Esteem, and Self-Compassion on Premenstrual syndrome in Female College Students

Menstruation is a normal female reproductive function but many women experience physical, mental, and behavioral discomfort related to menstruation, therefore the significance of the active intervention is highlighted. Accordingly, this study attempted to provide the basis for the development of a program for managing premenstrual syndrome by identifying the correlations between academic stress, body esteem, self-compassion, and premenstrual syndrome and influencing factors of premenstrual syndrome among female college students. The study subjects were 180 female college students at a university in Gyeonggi-do, and the collected data were analyzed by frequency, percentage, average, standard deviation, t-test, Pearson's Correlation Coefficients, and Multiple Regression using the SPSS Win 28.0 statistical program. The results showed that the average score of premenstrual syndrome was 1.86, academic stress was 2.68, body esteem was 2.65, and self-compassion was 3.22. Analyzing the premenstrual syndrome according to the general characteristics and menstrual-related characteristics of the subjects, there were significant differences in age(F=3.05, p=.049), exercise frequency(F=3.53, p=.030), amount of menstruation(F=4.48, p=.013), and menstrual pain(F=13.81, p=.001). Premenstrual syndrome had a notable positive correlation with academic stress (r=.26, p<.001), and a significant negative correlation with body esteem (r=-.27, p<.001) and self-compassion (r=-.23, p<.001). Academic stress had a significant negative correlation with body esteem (r=-.50, p<.001) and self-compassion (r=-.56, p<.001), and body esteem had a significant positive correlation with self-compassion (r=.57, p<.001). Multiple regression analysis was implemented to identify the factors affecting premenstrual syndrome of female college students, and the result showed that severe menstrual pain(β=.46, p<.001), normal menstrual pain(β=.38, p<.001), heavy menstrual flow(β=.38, p<.001), age((β=.18 p=.029), academic stress(β=.18 p=.022), and body esteem (β=-.17, p=.026), and the level of explanation was 26.0%. In other words, more intense or regular menstrual pain, heavier menstrual flow, older age(≥24), higher academic stress, and lower body esteem were correlated with more serious premenstrual syndrome in female college students. Based on the findings, it is necessary to develop and apply various programs not only for managing menstrual symptoms but also for managing academic stress and enhancing body esteem to alleviate menstrual symptoms and improve menstrual health among female college students.