Childhood trauma severity and menstruation myths in relation to menstrual practice needs among emerging adult women in Türkiye: an exploratory cross-sectional study

Menstrual health is shaped not only by biological factors but also by psychosocial and sociocultural influences. Childhood trauma has been associated with adverse reproductive and menstrual outcomes; however, little is known about how early life adversity relates to women’s menstrual experiences, particularly during emerging adulthood, when the consequences of childhood trauma may influence health and well-being. This study aimed to examine the associations between childhood trauma severity, endorsement of menstruation myths, and menstrual practice needs among emerging-adult women. This cross-sectional study included women aged 18–26 years recruited from obstetrics and gynecology outpatient clinics in Central Anatolia, Türkiye ( N = 103). Childhood trauma severity was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire–33 (CTQ-33; higher scores indicate greater trauma severity). Menstrual practice needs were measured using the Menstrual Practice Needs Scale (MPNS; higher scores indicate better met needs), and menstruation-related myths were measured using the Menstruation Myths Scale (MMS; higher scores indicate stronger myth endorsement). Partial correlations, hierarchical linear regression, and an exploratory indirect-effect analysis were conducted, controlling for education, employment, child status, and CTQ minimization/denial. CTQ-33 scores were negatively associated with MPNS scores (partial r = − .28, p = .005) and positively associated with MMS scores (partial r = .36, p < .001). In addition, MMS scores were negatively associated with MPNS scores (partial r = -.38, p < .001). In hierarchical regression, CTQ-33 scores were negatively associated with MPNS scores; after adding MMS, this association attenuated and became non-significant, whereas MMS remained a significant negative predictor (B = − 0.011, p = .002; BCa 95% CI [-0.018, -0.004]). An exploratory indirect-effect model showed a significant statistical indirect association through MMS scores (B = − 0.0034, 95% bootstrap CI [− 0.0063, − 0.0008]). Menstruation myths may represent a potentially modifiable proximal correlate of menstrual practice needs in emerging adult women, whereas childhood trauma severity may reflect a more distal developmental vulnerability. Clinicians may incorporate brief, nonjudgmental questions about menstruation-related myths, shame, communication barriers, and privacy when assessing menstrual health, especially when childhood adversity is known or suspected. Future community-based and longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these relationships.