• The impact of psychosocial factors on menstrual function disorders in adolescent girls under conditions of military conflict
en To content Full text of article

The impact of psychosocial factors on menstrual function disorders in adolescent girls under conditions of military conflict

Ukrainian Journal Health of Woman. 2025. 6(181): 26-31. doi: 10.15574/HW.2025.6(186).2631
Olshanska A. V.
Private Higher Educational Institution «International Humanitarian University», Odesa, Ukraine

For citation: Olshanska AV. (2025). The impact of psychosocial factors on menstrual function disorders in adolescent girls under conditions of military conflict. Ukrainian Journal Health of Woman. 6(181): 26-31. doi: 10.15574/HW.2025.6(186).2631
Article received: Sep 09, 2025. Accepted for publication: Nov 20, 2025.

Military actions create conditions of chronic stress that negatively impact the reproductive health of adolescents. The role of psychosocial isolation and emotional state in the development of menstrual dysfunction under the conditions of prolonged military conflict requires detailed study.
Aim – to evaluate the impact of psychosocial factors and stress levels on menstrual cycle regularity in adolescent girls during military conflict.
Materials and methods. A survey was conducted among 100 girls (aged 11–18 years). Two groups were formed based on the regularity of the menstrual cycle: the main group (n=28) – girls with menstrual cycle disorders; and the comparison group (n=72) – girls with a regular cycle. Stress susceptibility was assessed using the "Determination of the degree of susceptibility to stress" questionnaire (adapted by M.M. Prylyutska). Statistical analysis was performed by calculating relative values; Student's t-test and p-value were used to assess the significance of differences.
Results. It was established that the key social risk factor is the restriction of in-person (offline) learning. The obtained data confirm that social isolation and the transition to distance learning under martial law significantly impair the adaptive capacities of adolescents, which correlates with menstrual cycle disorders. A comparative analysis of the psycho-emotional state revealed that a high level of exhaustion occurred significantly more frequently in the girls of the main group. Pronounced psycho-emotional exhaustion under chronic wartime stress is a powerful predictor of menstrual dysfunction in adolescent girls.
Conclusions. The lack of socialization ("social vacuum") and a high level of stress load under the conditions of military conflict are determinants of menstrual dysfunction. Almost two-thirds of the respondents with an irregular menstrual cycle significantly more often had pronounced psycho-emotional exhaustion, adaptation difficulties, and a high level of emotional distress. The most common manifestations were feelings of fatigue, lack of recovery after rest, and anxiety without an apparent cause.
No conflict of interests was declared by the author.
Keywords: adolescent girls, adolescence, menstrual cycle, risk factors, social factors, stress, psycho-emotional state, menstrual dysfunction, armed conflict.

REFERENCES

1. Brewer CJ, Balen AH. (2010). The adverse effects of obesity on conception and implantation. Reproduction. 140(3): 347-364. https://doi.org/10.1530/REP-09-0568; PMid:20395425

2. Dhar S, Mondal KK, Bhattacharjee P. (2023). Influence of lifestyle factors with the outcome of menstrual disorders among adolescents and young women in West Bengal, India. Scientific Reports. 13: 8511. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-35858-2; PMid:37528155 PMCid:PMC10393940

3. Fitri S, Sofianita NI, Octaria YC. (2024). Factors influencing the menstrual cycle of female college students in Depok, Indonesia. Amerta Nutrition. 8(3SP): 94-104. https://doi.org/10.20473/amnt.v8i3SP.2024.94-104

4. Kim T, Nam GE, Han B, Cho SJ, Kim J, Eum DH et al. (2018). Associations of mental health and sleep duration with menstrual cycle irregularity: a population-based study. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology. 39(3): 220-226. Epub 2018 Jun 16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-018-0872-8; PMid:29909508

5. Krettenauer T, Colasante T, Buchmann M, Malti T. (2014). The development of moral emotions and decision-making from adolescence to early adulthood: a 6-year longitudinal study. Journal of Youth and Adolescence. 43(4): 583-596. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-013-9994-5; PMid:23929531

6. Kumuda T, Ratna Kumari P, Jaitun Ruman M. (2023). The impact of lifestyle factors on menstrual irregularities in adolescent girls: A prospective observational study. Journal of Clinical and Community Practice. 1(1): 25-30. URL: https://www.jccpractice.com/article/the-impact-of-lifestyle-factors-on-menstrual-irregularities-in-adolescent-girls-a-prospective-observational-study-1278/.

7. Kurapov A, Kalaitzaki A, Keller V, Danyliuk I, Kowatsch T. (2023). The mental health impact of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war 6 months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 14: 1134780. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1134780; PMid:37575573 PMCid:PMC10412819

8. Ministry of Health of RI. (2018). National Report of Basic Health Research 2018. Jakarta: Health Research and Development Agency: 198. URL: https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Laporan+Nasional+Riskesdas+2018.

9. Nam GE, Han K, Lee G. (2017). Association between sleep duration and menstrual cycle irregularity in Korean female adolescents. Sleep Medicine. 35: 62-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2017.04.009; PMid:28619183

10. Nur Azurah AG, Sanci L, Moore E, Grover S. (2013). The quality of life of adolescents with menstrual problems. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. 26(2): 102-108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpag.2012.11.004; PMid:23337310

11. Odongo E, Byamugisha J, Ajeani J, Mukisa J. (2023). Prevalence and effects of menstrual disorders on quality of life of female undergraduate students in Makerere University College of Health Sciences: a cross-sectional survey. BMC Women's Health. 23: 152. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-023-02290-7; PMid:36997915 PMCid:PMC10064702

12. Polyvianaia M, Yachnik Y, Fegert JM, Sitarski E, Stepanova N, Pinchuk I. (2025). Mental health of university students twenty months after the beginning of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war. BMC Psychiatry. 25: 236. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06654-1; PMid:40075321 PMCid:PMC11905627

13. Synkina AA. (2022). Menstrual cycle disorders against the background of dyshormonal and metabolic disorders in adolescents during the war. Aktualni pytannia pediatrii, akusherства та hinekolohii. (2): 52-58. https://doi.org/10.11603/24116-4944.2022.2.13459

14. Vseosvita.ua. (2024). Determination of the degree of susceptibility to stress: test (adaptation by M. M. Prylyutska). URL: https://vseosvita.ua/test/vyznachennia-stupenia-skhylnosti-do-stresu-4060700.html.

15. Widiasari PR, Rokhanawati D, Kurniawati HF. (2024). Overview of factors affecting menstrual cycle regularity in adolescent girls. Journal of Telenursing (JOTING). 6(1): 1145-1155. https://doi.org/10.31539/joting.v6i1.8273

16. World Health Organization. (2023). Adolescent health. URL: https://www.who.int/health-topics/adolescent-health.