International Journal of Women's Health (Feb 2022)
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Premenstrual Syndrome in Female College Students in East Asia: A Multi-Country Study
Abstract
Jeongok Park,1 Jung Jae Lee,2 SoMi Park,3 Hyeonkyeong Lee,1 Sujin Nam,2 Sejeong Lee,4 Hyojin Lee4 1College of Nursing, Mo-Im Kim Nursing Research Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea; 2School of Nursing, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Nursing, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea; 4College of Nursing and Brain Korea 21 FOUR Project, Yonsei University, Seoul, KoreaCorrespondence: Hyojin Lee, College of Nursing and Brain Korea 21 FOUR Project, 50-1, Yonsei-Ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Korea, Tel +82-10-4756-0692, Email [email protected]: This study aimed to explore the severity of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and to examine associated factors with PMS among East Asian female college students with regard to endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC).Patients and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional design. An online survey was completed by 520 female college students in Hong Kong and Korea. The structured questionnaire included items measuring knowledge of EDCs, actions taken and willingness to minimize exposure to EDCs, interest in EDCs, prior education on EDCs, life stress, severity of PMS, and general and health-related characteristics. Multiple logistic regressions were performed.Results: The prevalence of severe PMS among the participants was 54.6%. Factors associated with severe PMS included a self-reported heavy menstrual flow, underweight, obesity, interpersonal relationship stress, actions taken to minimize exposure to EDCs, and interest in EDCs.Conclusion: This study provided the evidence of a negative association between severe PMS and the actions taken to minimize exposure to EDCs. To alleviate symptoms of PMS among young female adults, practical interventions, such as education to overcome barriers to preventing exposure to EDCs, are suggested.Keywords: women’s health, public health nursing, reproductive health
