Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the impact of COVID-19-related fear on menstrual regularity and sleep quality among female university students during the pandemic period.
Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 229 female students from both a private and a state university who participated voluntarily. Data were collected using a Descriptive Information Form, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 26.0.
Results: Of the participants, 91.3% were single, 51.5% were first-year students, and 88.7% resided with their families. The mean FCV-19S score was 15.63 ± 6.01 (range: 7-35), and the mean PSQI score was 9.61 ± 3.65 (range: 3-20), indicating poor overall sleep quality. Participants reporting menstrual irregularities during the pandemic showed significantly higher PSQI and FCV-19S scores. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between fear of COVID-19 and poor sleep quality.
Conclusion: Fear of COVID-19 was significantly associated with sleep quality and menstrual irregularities; however, the strength of this relationship was weak. These findings highlight the need for psychosocial support and health monitoring for young women during and after
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