The Relationship Between Stress Levels and Irregular Menstrual Cycles Among Female High School Students at Al Azhar Kelapa Gading: An Islamic Perspective

Abstract

Menstrual cycle irregularities are one of the reproductive health problems frequently experienced by adolescent girls and can be influenced by various factors, including psychological stress. This research aimed to determine the relationship between stress levels and menstrual cycle irregularities among female students at Al-Azhar Kelapa Gading High School and to review the findings from an Islamic perspective. This quantitative cross-sectional research involved 60 female students selected from 188 using quota sampling. Data were collected via the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) and structured questions on menstrual cycles, then analyzed using univariate analysis and the Pearson Chi-Square test to examine the association between stress levels and menstrual irregularities. The results showed that most respondents experienced moderate stress levels (66.7%), followed by low stress levels (20.0%) and severe stress levels (13.3%). Regarding menstrual cycles, 83.3% of respondents had regular cycles, while 16.7% experienced irregular cycles. The statistical analysis revealed a significant association between stress levels and menstrual cycle irregularities with a p-value of 0.001 (p < 0.05). Respondents with severe stress levels were more likely to report irregular menstrual cycles compared to those with lower stress levels. These findings suggest that psychological stress may affect menstrual regularity through hormonal disturbances, though the cross-sectional design prevents causal conclusions. From an Islamic perspective, managing stress through patience, dhikr, and tawakal is essential for maintaining mental, spiritual, and physical balance. This study underscores the importance of stress management education for adolescent girls to improve reproductive health and provides empirical evidence to support school-based health interventions.