International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health最新文献

{"title":"Smartphone addiction and sleep disruption among young adults (18-25 years): a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Tabitha Tolulope Okunlola, Ajit Kumar Lenka, Mayank Singh, Supriya Awasthi, Shashank Sharma, Rajshree Chanchal","doi":"10.1515/ijamh-2025-0168","DOIUrl":"10.1515/ijamh-2025-0168","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The global rise in smartphone usage, especially among young adults (18-25 years), has prompted alarm regarding its influence on the sleep health. Smartphone addiction through an irresistible urge and excessive use has been implicated in various behavioural and psychological disturbances. Sleep, an important predictor of well-being, is particularly susceptible to excessive its exposure; but how much and how consistently is unclear. This study aimed to systematically review and quantitatively synthesize the evidence on the association between smartphone addiction and sleep disruption amongst young people.</p><p><strong>Content: </strong>A systematic search of electronic databases (SpringerLink, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar) was conducted to identify observational studies \"smartphone addiction\" and \"sleep quality\" among this group (18-25 years). Screening was done with the help of Rayyan AI, and the included studies were evaluated using JBI appraisal tool. Total of 68 articles were included for systematic review, of which 63 contributed to the meta-analysis. Findings were synthesized narratively, and quantitative effect size data were extracted to enable meta-analytic assessment. Narrative synthesis consistently showed that higher levels of smartphone overuse were linked to poorer sleep outcomes, including delayed onset of sleep, shorter sleep period, poorer global sleep quality, and greater daytime dysfunction. The pooled analysis found a moderate positive correlation (r=0.38, 95 % CI: 0.31-0.48, p<0.001) between smartphone addiction and poor sleep quality. There was a significant variation observed across studies (I²=99.25 %). Publication bias assessments using the Egger's regression, Begg's test and trim-and-fill analysis showed no significant evidence of publication bias.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>The findings provide strong and consistent evidence that young adults' poor sleep quality is moderately correlated with smartphone addiction. Although most available evidence is based on cross-sectional studies and self-reported measures, the results highlight problematic use of smartphone as an important, potentially changeable behavioural risk factor for sleep disturbance.</p><p><strong>Outlook: </strong>Future research should prioritize longitudinal study designs, objective measures of smartphone use and sleep, and intervention studies to clarify causal pathways and identify effective strategies for improving sleep health among young adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":13823,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health","volume":" ","pages":"327-359"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148689077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Patterns of peer bullying among adolescents: the role of BMI and socioeconomic factors - a cross-sectional study in Turkey.","authors":"Eren Güzeloğlu, Belen Ateş, Emine Gözde Ozdrama Yildiz, Sevilay Kök, Hüseyin Dağ, Vefik Arica","doi":"10.1515/ijamh-2026-0013","DOIUrl":"10.1515/ijamh-2026-0013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Peer bullying represent significant public health challenges with profound implications for adolescent psychosocial development. This study investigates the frequency of traditional and cyberbullying among adolescents, specifically examining how BMI and socioeconomic factors predict victimization risk and frequency. This study aimed to determine the frequency of peerbullying among school-aged children and adolescents and to examine the predictive impact of body mass index (BMI) and socioeconomic factors on victimization.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted with 330 Turkish adolescents aged 10-17 years of school-aged children and adolescents. Data were collected using the 9-item Child-Adolescent Bullying Scale (CABS-9) - Short Form along with a demographic information form. BMI was calculated based on height and weight measurements. Statistical analysis included regression models to determine the variance explained by BMI.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The prevalence of peer bullying was found to be 42.1 %, while cyberbullying prevalence was 12.7 %. Male gender, lower socioeconomic status, and younger age (specifically 4th-grade students) were identified as significant risk factors. BMI accounted for 17.5 % of the variance in bullying victimization (R²=0.175), with overweight and obese participants reporting significantly higher victimization scores (19.12 ± 6.15) compared to their normal-weight peers (13.50 ± 3.85). Verbal bullying (mocking and ridiculing) was the most frequent (33.9 %).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings indicate that bullying frequency in this sample exceeds global averages but aligns with regional trends in high- frequency areas. The significant predictive power of BMI suggests that physical appearance remains a primary catalyst for peer exclusion and mockery. These results underscore the urgent need for early-intervention programs, starting in primary school, that focus on body positivity, self-esteem enhancement, and the social integration of economically disadvantaged students.</p>","PeriodicalId":13823,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health","volume":" ","pages":"377-384"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148684347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Contextual challenges of implementing adolescent and youth-friendly health services in Uasin Gishu county Kenya: a qualitative analysis.","authors":"Lonnie Embleton, Celestine Ashimosi, Sheila Kirwa, Ava Boal, Ashley Chory, Thiyasha Kodituwakku, Camila Johanek, Mary A Ott, Rachel C Vreeman, Irene Marete","doi":"10.1515/ijamh-2025-0215","DOIUrl":"10.1515/ijamh-2025-0215","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Substantial gaps in the implementation of adolescent and youth-friendly health services (AYFHS) have been identified in Uasin Gishu (UG) county, Kenya, across all eight domains of the WHO global standards, particularly with respect to adolescent health literacy, community support, provider competencies, and equity and non-discrimination. To respond, we undertook a qualitative analysis to explore contextual challenges of implementing AYFHS from the perspectives of adolescents and young adults (AYA) aged 10-24 years, policymakers, caregivers of AYA, healthcare providers, peer mentors, and community leaders.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used a hybrid inductive/deductive thematic analysis to explore contextual and systems-level determinants of implementing AYFHS in UG county, Kenya.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our analysis generated four major themes: 1) priorities of political leadership and health systems management; 2) financial challenges; 3) human resources and facility infrastructure; and 4) social-cultural barriers. Participants perceived political will, leadership, and health systems management to be obstacles to implementing AYFHS. Further, participants stated that financial challenges were a leading barrier to the implementation of AYFHS in the county, and that dispersion of funds from the county government to facilities was inadequate. Intersecting with the political-economic context, participants discussed limited human resources, poor facility infrastructure, and supply issues as determinants of implementation. Lastly, social-cultural norms in association with sexual and reproductive health discussed as a substantial issue.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Addressing implementation determinants of AYFHS, including political, economic, and social-cultural barriers, can enable adoption and facilitate implementation and scale of AYFHS that are a fundamental component of living healthy and productive lives for AYA in Kenya.</p>","PeriodicalId":13823,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health","volume":" ","pages":"253-260"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148619903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of a parent-based intervention to improve adolescents' sexual and reproductive health knowledge: a pilot study.","authors":"Nur Athirah Abd Rasid, Noor Azimah Muhammad, Farha Munira Mohamed Kamel, Amir Zharif Adenan, Siti Roshaidai Mohd Arifin, Ani Amelia Zainuddin","doi":"10.1515/ijamh-2026-0074","DOIUrl":"10.1515/ijamh-2026-0074","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Adolescents continue to demonstrate uneven sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge, particularly in applied domains such as contraception, gender identity, and digital safety. While school-based education emphasizes biological aspects of reproduction, structured family-based SRH education remains limited. This study examined whether empowering parents with structured, culturally sensitive SRH content and professional guidance may improve adolescents' SRH knowledge through parent-adolescent communication on sexual issues (PACS).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A quasi-experimental single-arm pre-post pilot study was conducted among Malaysian parent-adolescent dyads. Parents received a six-week structured SRH module delivered via a website, supported by healthcare professionals through digital platforms, and engaged in PACS. Adolescents completed a validated 30-item SRH knowledge questionnaire at baseline and post-intervention.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fifty adolescents with a mean age of 14.45 (SD=1.50) years completed the study (completion rate: 89.3 %). Median knowledge scores increased significantly from 19.0 (IQR=11.5-26.5) to 23.0 (IQR=17-29) (p<0.001, r=0.62). Significant improvements were observed across several knowledge domains, including contraception misconceptions, oral sex and pregnancy risk, gender identity, digital safety, grooming awareness, and abortion (r=0.28-0.40, p<0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This pilot study provides preliminary evidence that empowering parents with digitally delivered, structured SRH education and professional support can enhance parent-adolescent communication and improve adolescents' knowledge, particularly in sensitive and under-addressed domains. This family-based approach offers a feasible and scalable complement to school-based SRH education, especially in culturally sensitive and resource-limited settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":13823,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health","volume":" ","pages":"405-412"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148620017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Contraceptive knowledge, attitudes, and practices among adolescent girls in a peri-urban South African community.","authors":"Mbakishi Pamela, Olufunmilayo Olukemi Akapo, Mirabel Kah-Keh Nanjoh","doi":"10.1515/ijamh-2026-0006","DOIUrl":"10.1515/ijamh-2026-0006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to contraceptive use among adolescent girls in a peri-urban neighbourhood of Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 116 adolescent girls using a structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS version 29. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise participants' demographic characteristics and contraceptive knowledge, attitudes, and practices.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most participants resided in Chris Hani Site B (83.6%) and lived with a parent (94.8%). Condoms (73.3%) were the most recognised contraceptive method, followed by injectable contraceptives (19.0%) and oral contraceptive pills (17.2%). Only 29.3% of participants demonstrated a high level of contraceptive knowledge based on the selected indicators. All participants (100%) acknowledged that contraceptive use is a personal choice and is important for preventing unintended pregnancies. Nevertheless, overall understanding was inconsistent, indicating a gap between general awareness and informed knowledge. Among the 89 sexually active participants, 84 (94.4%) reportedprevious contraceptive use.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Although previous contraceptive use was high among sexually active participants, important gaps in contraceptive knowledge and understanding remained. Targeted health promotion, peer education, and community-based interventions are needed to address misinformation, stigma, and sociocultural barriers and to support informed contraceptive decision-making among adolescent girls.</p>","PeriodicalId":13823,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health","volume":" ","pages":"413-422"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148620045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of muscle warm-up phases on proprioception, vertical jump, agility, and balance in elite adolescent soccer players: a repeated-measures experimental study.","authors":"Neslihan Altuntaş Yılmaz, Muhammet Talha Doğan","doi":"10.1515/ijamh-2026-0007","DOIUrl":"10.1515/ijamh-2026-0007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of different muscle warm-up phases on knee joint proprioception, vertical jump, agility, and balance in professional youth athletes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty-five professional adolescent football players under the age of 18 (mean age: 16.5 ± 1.2 years) were included in the study (n=25). Dominant knee joint proprioception was measured at 30° using a digital inclinometer. Dynamic balance was assessed using the Y-balance test (in anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions), explosive power was evaluated with the Sargent vertical jump test, and agility was measured using the T-test. All assessments were conducted during three muscle warm-up phases (rest, warm-up, and post-training).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The analysis revealed significant differences in all parameters depending on the muscle's warm-up state (p<0.001). Proprioception, explosive power, agility, and dynamic balance were measured at their best when the muscles were warmed up. Proprioception was found to be weakest in the fatigued muscle condition (2.42°). Explosive power and dynamic balance were lowest in the resting muscle condition. Agility did not differ between the resting and fatigued conditions (p=0.874).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Muscle warm-up phases positively influence proprioceptive accuracy, agility, and balance in elite youth soccer players, whereas fatigue impairs these parameters. These findings suggest that optimal warm-up protocols should be incorporated to enhance performance and reduce injury risk.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>This study was retrospectively registered with ClinicalTrials.gov on 12/15/2025 (ID: NCT07284706).</p>","PeriodicalId":13823,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health","volume":" ","pages":"321-326"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148584296","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of hypertension and its predictors among adolescent school children in Bikaner, India: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Arun Tiwari, Veer Bahadur Singh, Nancy Garg, Babu Lal Meena, Naveen Kumar","doi":"10.1515/ijamh-2025-0157","DOIUrl":"10.1515/ijamh-2025-0157","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, obesity, and chronic kidney disease are increasingly recognized among adolescents, particularly in low- and middle-income settings like India, where the epidemiologic transition is well underway. However, robust regional data for semi-urban and rural populations remain sparse. This study assessed the prevalence and determinants of hypertension, obesity, and proteinuria among school-going adolescents in Bikaner, Rajasthan.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a cross-sectional study between April 2017 and January 2018 in three randomly selected schools in Bikaner. Adolescents aged 13-19 years were recruited using a multi-stage cluster random sampling technique, with parental consent and participant assent. Standardized anthropometry, blood pressure measurement (AAP 2017 definitions), and dipstick urinalysis for proteinuria/glycosuria were performed. Generalised Mixed Linear models was used to assess predictors of hypertension.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 1,082 participants (mean age: 16 ± 2 years; 58.7 % male), the prevalence of overall hypertension was 24.7 %, with an additional 8.3 % exhibiting elevated blood pressure. BMI-based overweight and obesity were observed in 9.3 % and 2.9 %, respectively, while central obesity was present in 49.3 %. Dipstick proteinuria (≥1+) was found in 4.3 %. Multivariable analysis identified age, male sex, central obesity, increasing BMI, and dipstick proteinuria as independent predictors of hypertension. Family history of hypertension, diabetes, and thyroid disease were also associated.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>There is a strikingly high prevalence of hypertension and central adiposity among adolescents in this semi-urban population, with early clustering of cardiovascular and renal risk factors. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted school-based screening and preventive interventions in similar transitional settings across India.</p>","PeriodicalId":13823,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health","volume":" ","pages":"313-320"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148535784","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"\"I just tell them to do it privately\": parents' experiences managing sexual behaviours in adolescents with intellectual disabilities.","authors":"Diana H Angraini, Evi Martha, Farida Kurniawati, Besral","doi":"10.1515/ijamh-2025-0227","DOIUrl":"10.1515/ijamh-2025-0227","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Adolescents with intellectual disabilities are at increased risk of experiencing and displaying inappropriate sexual behaviours, while parents in culturally sensitive settings often lack adequate guidance for managing them. This study examined how Indonesian parents recognise and manage inappropriate sexual behaviours among adolescents with intellectual disabilities within culturally embedded contexts.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A qualitative descriptive design with a case-study orientation was employed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 mothers of adolescents with intellectual disabilities in Indonesia between October and December 2024. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to examine emotional responses, behavioural management strategies, and parents' support needs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Parents reported diverse inappropriate sexual behaviours occurring during daily routines and described difficulty distinguishing normative from problematic actions. Emotional reactions included shame, panic, fear of judgment, and anxiety about exploitation, shaped by cultural and religious expectations of modesty. Parents resorted to reactive strategies such as correction, supervision, environmental control, and consistent reinforcement, but lacked structured guidance and culturally appropriate resources. They expressed strong needs for hands-on training, clear behavioural criteria, visual teaching tools, and coordinated support between families and schools.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings highlight the emotional and cultural complexity of parental responses to inappropriate sexual behaviours and underscore the need for culturally grounded, family-centred interventions. Strengthening parental capacity through tailored training and collaborative frameworks is essential to improving behavioural management and safeguarding adolescents with intellectual disabilities.</p>","PeriodicalId":13823,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health","volume":" ","pages":"395-403"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148470366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cross-cultural adaptation and preliminary validation of the adolescent obesity environmental questionnaire (AOEQ) in LMICs: family, school, and peer contexts.","authors":"Erlena Erlena, Intansari Nurjannah, Deddy Nurwachid Achadiono, Tri Wibawa","doi":"10.1515/ijamh-2026-0037","DOIUrl":"10.1515/ijamh-2026-0037","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Although adolescent obesity is a growing concern in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), culturally adapted tools to assess environmental risk factors are limited. This study developed and conducted a preliminary validation of the Adolescent Obesity Environmental Questionnaire (AOEQ), with a design intended to be relevant for LMIC contexts.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Items were generated via literature review, adaptation of existing tools, and focus group discussions. Forward-backward translation and expert panel review ensured content validity. Five experts rated items using Content Validity Index (CVI), and face validity was evaluated with adolescents (FVI).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The preliminary AOEQ included 40 items across three domains: family (27), school (6), and peer (7). Expert review showed high content validity (S-CVI/Ave=0.90; I-CVI 0.83-1.00). Face validity confirmed clarity and cultural appropriateness (S-FVI/Ave=0.94). Internal consistency was high (Cronbach's α=0.813-0.948).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The AOEQ is a reliable, culturally valid tool for assessing obesogenic environments among Indonesian adolescents, with potential applicability to other adolescents in LMIC settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":13823,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health","volume":" ","pages":"369-375"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148375840","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Statistical insights into premenstrual syndrome and dysphoric disorder: understanding menstrual health challenges in pre-university students.","authors":"Huay Woon You, Nurul Sarah Izzati","doi":"10.1515/ijamh-2026-0029","DOIUrl":"10.1515/ijamh-2026-0029","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which typically occurs during the luteal phase, one week prior to menstruation. Menstrual health challenges encompass a spectrum of physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms. These challenges can significantly affect quality of life, academic performance, and social functioning among young women. This study was conducted to identify the prevalence and severity of PMS and PMDD among pre-university students.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 100 students were randomly selected as participants, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The instrument comprised three sections, including demographic information, menstrual patterns and the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST). Classification of PMS and PMDD was based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV (DSM-IV) criteria embedded within the PSST.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Findings revealed that seven respondents met the criteria for PMDD, while 46 and 47 respondents were categorized as experiencing no/mild PMS and moderate to severe PMS, respectively. Students diagnosed with PMDD reported higher levels of menstrual pain and more frequent premenstrual symptoms compared to those with no/mild or moderate to severe PMS. These symptoms were found to interfere with daily activities and social interactions, underscoring the psychosocial burden of menstrual health challenges. Furthermore, PMS symptoms are known to persist across the reproductive lifespan and may continue during the menopausal transition.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Given these implications, raising awareness of PMS and PMDD is essential to safeguard the overall well-being of women, particularly in educational settings where menstrual health challenges can disrupt academic engagement and psychosocial development.</p>","PeriodicalId":13823,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health","volume":" ","pages":"389-394"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148251086","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}