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Do you have a child who has started their periods? You might be able to help!

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EqualityinSports · 06/06/2024 08:52

My name is Lisa; I am a post-graduate student in the School of Psychology at The University of Buckingham. I am researching how menstruation affects physical activity in adolescent girls. I would therefore like to collect data from adolescents who are able to menstruate. This includes girls, trans boys, and other young people who have periods.

This research area has not currently been explored yet could provide valuable insight into why girls are more likely to stop enjoying physical activity.

We know that taking part in sports not only helps with the negative symptoms of periods but also helps adolescents concentrate better, achieve more academically, have better relationships with friends, have better mental and physical health and have a better job when they are older. However, around 7 in 10 girls in the UK do not enjoy or take part in sport and around 85% do not meet the World Health Organisation’s minimum physical exercise guidelines of an average of 60 minutes a day. I want to understand what might influence that to help more people enjoy moving their bodies, so they don’t miss out on the host of physical, mental, and attainment advantages of exercise.

The title of my project is: Period of Activity: A study looking at how the experience of menstruation affects the desire to take part in sport in those who have periods

In this study, I am specifically looking at how menstruation symptoms, combined with the way children feel about themselves, affect physical activity. To do this, I would like to ask them some questions about their menstrual distress symptoms (e.g. if a symptom like back pain affects them and if so, when and how much it does through their cycle), how self-critical and self-compassionate they feel, and how much physical exercise they do.

I would, therefore, like to collect data from adolescents who are able to menstruate. This includes girls, trans boys and other young people who have periods.

If your child is between 12 & 18 years old and has had at least one period, I would like to hear about their experience of menstruation and how it affects their physical activity levels.

The questionnaire can be completed on a computer or smart device and should not take any more than 30 minutes. It will need to be completed by 31st July 2024 to be included in my research.

I want to hear the experiences of as many children as possible, as this will provide the best understanding of how menstruation affects physical activity during the unique challenge of adolescence. No one will be able to identify your child from their answers.

Please follow the link to the questionnaire where you can access the information sheet before deciding if you consent to your child taking part. If you do decide they can take part, please share the link with them where they too can decide if they want to take part.

Please only ask your child to participate if they have had at least one period

If you have any questions, please email me [email protected]

run.pavlovia.org/pavlovia/survey-2024.1.0/?surveyId=aff26d6c-ba97-4d98-ac60-6129751a4764

I appreciate your consideration.

Best wishes

Lisa Ruggles
Department of Psychology 
The University of Buckingham 
London Road Buckingham 
MK18 1BF

[Edited by MNHQ at OP's request]

Do you have a child who has started their periods? You might be able to help!

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123ZYX · 06/06/2024 09:08

You might want to have a read of this www.mumsnet.com/i/trans-rights-moderation-policy and think whether you might want to reword your post.