The Association between Sleep Quality and Primary Dysmenorrhea Among Female Engineering Students at Nusa Cendana University: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract : Background: Primary dysmenorrhea is a common gynecological condition among young women and may significantly impair daily activities and academic performance. Sleep quality has been suggested as an important modifiable risk factor, as poor sleep may increase inflammatory mediators and prostaglandin production involved in menstrual pain. However, findings regarding the relationship between sleep quality and primary dysmenorrhea remain inconsistent across populations. Objective: To determine the association between sleep quality and the incidence of primary dysmenorrhea among female engineering students at Nusa Cendana University. Methods: This analytical observational study employed a cross-sectional design. A total of 60 female students who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited using purposive sampling. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), while the severity of dysmenorrhea was evaluated using the WaLIDD score. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate analyses. The Mann–Whitney test was applied to determine the association between sleep quality and primary dysmenorrhea. Results: The majority of respondents (.7%) had poor sleep quality. Primary dysmenorrhea was reported by 86.7% of participants, with moderate severity being the most common (45%), followed by mild (33.3%) and severe dysmenorrhea (8.3%). Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant association between sleep quality and the incidence of primary dysmenorrhea (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Poor sleep quality is significantly associated with the occurrence of primary dysmenorrhea among female engineering students at Nusa Cendana University. Improving sleep quality may represent a potential non-pharmacological approach to reducing menstrual pain in this population.