"How Long Is the Shadow of the Past?" the Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Premenstrual Symptoms and Fear of Childbirth.

BACKGROUND

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may have long-term effects on women's reproductive and psychological health, including premenstrual symptoms and fear of childbirth.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the relationships between ACEs, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and fear of childbirth (FoC) among young women.

METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional and correlational study was conducted with 399 female university students in Türkiye between March and April 2022. Data were collected using the Adverse Childhood Experiences-Turkish Form (ACE-TF), Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS), and Women's Fear of Childbirth-Prior to Pregnancy Scale (WCF-PPS). Pearson correlation and linear regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Of the participants, 58.6% reported at least one ACE and 71.7% had PMS symptoms. ACE scores were positively correlated with PMS (r = 0.476, p < 0.01) and FoC (r = 0.169, p < 0.01). PMS was also positively correlated with FoC (r = 0.455, p < 0.01). ACEs explained 22.5% of the variance in PMS scores (R2 = 0.225) and 2.6% of the variance in FoC scores (R2 = 0.026).

CONCLUSIONS

Adverse childhood experiences were associated with greater premenstrual symptoms and fear of childbirth among young women. Incorporating trauma-informed assessment and individualized psychosocial support into reproductive health care may facilitate early identification of women at increased risk for reproductive and emotional distress.