Menarche as a silent transition: Islamic modesty norms, mother-daughter communication, and menstrual readiness among rural Indonesian adolescents.
Outcomes: Sexual and Reproductive Health
View SourceKey Social Norms Take-aways Islamic modesty norms shape menstrual readiness by influencing whether, how, and how openly menstruation is discussed. Silence around menstruation was not simply an information gap but a socially meaningful practice associated with religious identity, femininity, modesty, and moral conduct. Importantly, adolescents did not reject Islamic values; rather, they wanted emotionally supportive communication that remained consistent with those values. The findings suggest that interventions should engage with religious and cultural norms rather than dismiss them, supporting mothers to combine accurate information with reassurance, openness, and opportunities for girls to ask questions.
Objectives The study examined how Islamic modesty norms shape silence and disclosure around menarche, assessed the relationship between mother–daughter communication and menstrual readiness, and explored implications for culturally appropriate interventions among rural Indonesian Muslim adolescents.
Methods This cross-sectional explanatory sequential mixed-methods study included a school-based survey of 386 Muslim girls aged 10–15 from eight schools in three rural districts in Southeast Sulawesi, followed by 20 in-depth interviews. The survey measured Islamic modesty norms, mother–daughter menstrual communication, and menstrual readiness. Modesty norms captured expectations around bodily privacy and menstrual discretion, while qualitative interviews explored perceived rules around discussing menstruation and how these influenced willingness to talk. Structural equation modeling assessed direct, mediation, and moderation relationships, and qualitative data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological approach and integrated with quantitative findings.
Results Stronger Islamic modesty norms were associated with lower menstrual readiness (β = −0.21, p < 0.001), while better mother–daughter communication was associated with greater readiness (β = 0.43, p < 0.001). Communication partially mediated the relationship between modesty norms and readiness (indirect β = −0.14, p < 0.001), and stronger modesty norms weakened the positive association between communication and readiness (interaction β = −0.17, p = 0.004). Qualitatively, girls described menstruation as private and silence as part of being a “good” and modest Muslim girl. Mothers generally provided practical and religious instructions but rarely addressed fear, confusion, or other emotional needs. Conclusions: Menstrual readiness is shaped by the interaction between culturally embedded modesty norms and family communication. Strengthening emotionally supportive mother–daughter communication within religious boundaries may improve preparedness and reduce menstrual stigma without requiring adolescents or families to reject valued Islamic principles.
Norms Addressed
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