ABSTRACT
Women college students in four countries were invited to write the story of their first menstruation in as much detail as memory allowed. Stories were received from 26 Lithuanians, 27 Americans, 20 Malaysians, and 23 Sudanese. The stories were read and their contents analyzed for the presence or absence of information on such topics as emotional reaction, preparedness, sources of information about menstruation, changes in body image, and celebrations of this rite of passage. Similarities and differences among the groups are discussed, and passages from particularly interesting stories are quoted.
PIP: A qualitative study investigated cross-cultural variation in psychological responses to menarche. College students from Lithuania (n = 26), the US (n = 27), Malaysia (n = 20), and Sudan (n = 23) were asked to write the story of their first menstruation in as much detail as memory allowed. 50% of Lithuanians, 78% of the Sudanese, 89% of Americans, and 90% of Malaysians reported they were prepared for menstruation. The most common emotions expressed by US women at menarche were embarrassment (44.4%), pride (25.9%), and anxiety (22.2%). Malaysians cited fear (35.0%), embarrassment (35.0%), and worry (30.0%). Lithuanian women described themselves as happy (38.5%), scared (26.9%), or expressed no emotions in their narratives (23.0%). The most common emotions cited by Sudanese were fear (34.8%), anxiety (26.1%), embarrassment (26.1%), and anger (21.7%). Sudanese women were most likely to describe the associated physical pain. Some type of private celebration at menarche was reported by 2 Lithuanians, 7 Sudanese, 9 Malaysians, and 10 Americans. Finally, there were cultural differences in the impact of menarche on their lives. Lithuanians reported feeling more valuable, beginning to think more about life, believing they had entered the world of women, and feeling more like a part of nature. Americans worried about whether they could still play sports, felt superior to premenarcheal friends, and became eager to learn about sex. Malaysians described feeling wise, respected, and mature. Finally, Sudanese reported feeling more beautiful and aware, more able to express themselves, and aware they could now have children.
