Flashbulb memories of menarche and adult menstrual distress

Abstract

Abstract

Ninety-nine female college students completed a questionnaire in which they recounted their memories of menarche, described menarcheal circumstances, and completed the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ). Consistent with previous research, inadequate emotional preparation for menstruation was associated with negative feelings at menarche. However, menarcheal circumstances were not strongly predictive of adult MDQ scores. Consistent with memory theory, the amount of information in memories of menarche was negatively related to adequacy of prior knowledge about menstruation: Women who reported feeling less knowledgeable at menarche provided more information about the first episode. While memories of menarche contain information that is relevant to subsequent menstrual experiences, the relationship between menarcheal events and adult menstrual distress appears to be minor.

Department

Psychology

Publication Date

6-1987

Journal Title

Journal of Adolescence

Publisher

Elsevier

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/S0140-1971(87)80087-8

Document Type

Article

Rights

© 1987 The Association for the Psychiatric Study of Adolescents.

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