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Journal of Adolescent Research
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Psychosocial and Cultural Factors Influencing Expectations of Menarche

A Study on Chinese Premenarcheal Teenage Girls

Dannii Y. L. Yeung

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Catherine So-kum Tang

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, ctang{at}cuhk.edu.hk

Antoinette Lee

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

This study explored how psychosocial and cultural factors influenced expectations of menarche among 476 Chinese premenarcheal teenage girls. Results showed that participants’ expectations of menarche were largely negative and heavily influenced by cultural beliefs about menstruation. Findings of hierarchical regression analyses revealed that positive emotional expectations of menarche were best predicted by perceptions of menstruation as a natural event, possession of positive self-concept, and rejection of indigenous negative menstrual attitudes. Negative emotional expectations of menarche were best predicted by perceptions of menstruation as a negative event, by inadequate preparation for menarche, by endorsement of indigenous negative menstrual attitudes, and by older age.

Key Words: Chinese menarche • Chinese menstrual attitudes • menstrual anticipations

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Journal of Adolescent Research, Vol. 20, No. 1, 118-135 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/0743558404271134
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