Survey study, 2024
Does anxiety change at different times during the menstrual cycle in teenage girls?
Yes. Girls had higher anxiety overall than boys. Among girls, those in the luteal phase before their period had higher anxiety than those in the menstrual phase.
What they did
Cross-sectional study of 101 adolescents (49 boys, 52 girls) aged 11 to 15 undergoing dental exam. Researchers measured anxiety using three questionnaires and recorded which phase of the menstrual cycle girls were in at the time of the exam.
What they found
Girls had lower dental anxiety scores than boys. Among the girls, those in the menstrual phase had lower state anxiety scores than those in the luteal phase. The study notes that PMS with heightened mental tension was highest during the luteal phase, associated with more negative mood in the girls.
What it means for you
The menstrual cycle appears to affect anxiety levels in teenagers. The study measured anxiety during dental visits in a single setting, which may not represent anxiety in other situations.
101
Total adolescents studied (52 female)
11-15
Age range
52
Number of girls
About the study
- Original title
- The Relationship Between Dental Anxiety and Menstrual Cycle Phases
- Authors
- Gizem Akçay, Ayça Kurt, Fatma Pertek Hatipoğlu et al.
- Journal
- International Dental Journal
- Year
- 2024
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 101
- What was tested
- None
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.identj.2024.07.695
Topics
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