Evaluation of the Relationship Between Menstrual Symptoms and Eating Attitudes in University Students in Turkey

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between menstrual symptoms and eating attitudes among university students. Conducted between January and June 2022, the study included 375 female students from a private university, determined with a 99.9% confidence interval and a 0.05 bias level. Data were collected using the “Personal Information Form,” “Menstrual Symptom Scale,” and “Eating Attitude Test Scale.” Statistical analysis included number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson correlation. The average age of participants was 22.24±3.23 years; 29.9% were in their fourth year, and 57.9% had a monthly income below the minimum wage. The mean total score of the Menstrual Symptom Scale was 65.59±19.87, with subscale scores of 38.61±11.70 for negative effects, 19.16±6.44 for pain symptoms, and 7.82±3.53 for coping methods. The average score on the Eating Attitude Test-40 was 23.07±21.21, with 77.9% of students predisposed to eating behaviour disorders. Participants predisposed to eating behaviour disorders had significantly higher scores in negative effects, pain symptoms, and total menstrual symptom scores (p<0.05). Menstrual symptoms and eating behaviour disorders are common among university students, and those predisposed to eating attitude disorders experience menstrual symptoms more frequently, suggesting a potential relationship between the two