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Emotional Reactions to Menarche Among Mexican Women of Different Generations

Sex Roles volume 54, pages 323–330 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

This study explored the information received about menstruation by Mexican women as well as their reactions to menarche. The most important topics that teenagers, young women, and middle-aged women were informed about were menstrual hygiene and physiology. In contrast, senior citizens were more informed about hygiene and activity restrictions. Regarding their reactions to menarche, teenagers and young women reported being confused. Positive reactions were reported only by older women who had knowledge about menstruation prior to menarche. Finally, younger women were more likely to present ambivalent reactions to menarche, probably because they are exposed to mixed messages which are often contradictory, resulting in more confusion and ambivalence.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Thomas Hunsberger and G. Andrew J. Gilchrist for reviewing the translation of the text into English.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Universidad de las Américas, Puebla, México

    Maria Luisa Marván, Claudia Morales & Sandra Cortés-Iniestra

  2. Departamento de Psicología, Universidad de las Américas-Puebla, Ex-Hacienda Sta Catarina Mártir, Cholula, Puebla, 72820, Mexico

    Maria Luisa Marván

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  1. Maria Luisa Marván
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  2. Claudia Morales
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  3. Sandra Cortés-Iniestra
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Correspondence to Maria Luisa Marván.

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Marván, M.L., Morales, C. & Cortés-Iniestra, S. Emotional Reactions to Menarche Among Mexican Women of Different Generations. Sex Roles 54, 323–330 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-006-9002-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-006-9002-6

Keywords

  • Menarche
  • Menstruation
  • Menstrual education