Attitudes about menstruation among fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-grade pre- and post-menarcheal girls.

A descriptive study of 106 fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-grade girls was conducted to determine their attitudes toward menarche. Attitudes of affirmation and worry were examined based on grade level, menarcheal status, and various other variables, including whether the participants had talked with their mother or a close friend, or seen a video on menstruation. Worry scores increased independently of menarcheal status from the fifth to sixth grade. From the sixth to seventh grade, there was no change in the level of worry of post-menarcheal girls, but there was a significant decrease in worry for pre-menarcheal girls. Perhaps these girls sought reassurance from a supportive person that their late menses was not abnormal. If so, this reassurance may have accounted for their decrease in worry scores. There was a decrease in worry in those girls who had sisters. Also, girls who had talked with someone about menstruation had higher affirmation scores than those who had not. Nursing implications include the need for school nurses to provide ongoing education for young females from fifth through seventh grades, and to encourage them to communicate with their support systems.