The Relationship Between Adolescents’ Knowledge and Attitudes and Adolescent Girls’ Acceptance of Physical Changes During Puberty at State Junior High School No. 02 in Bengkulu City

Abstract

Puberty in adolescent girls is marked by physical changes that can affect self-acceptance. Good knowledge and attitudes are necessary so that adolescents can positively accept these changes. This study aims to determine the relationship between adolescents' knowledge and attitudes and the acceptance of physical changes in adolescent girls during puberty at SMP Negeri 02 Kota Bengkulu.  This study uses a quantitative design with a cross-sectional approach on 80 female students in grades VII and VIII who were selected using proportional stratified random sampling. The data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed with the chi-square test. Based on the results of the univariate analysis, it is known that the majority of respondents have sufficient knowledge, which is 52.4%. The majority of respondents have a positive attitude, which is 58.7%, and positive acceptance of physical changes, which is 66.2%. Bivariate analysis based on the chi-square test results shows that there is a significant relationship between adolescent knowledge and acceptance of physical changes (p = 0.006), as well as a significant relationship between adolescent attitudes and acceptance of physical changes (p = 0.010), with p < 0.05. This study concludes that adolescent knowledge and attitudes play an important role in the acceptance of physical changes in female adolescents during puberty at SMP Negeri 02 Kota Bengkulu. This study is expected to increase understanding and serve as a basis for planning adolescent reproductive health education interventions, especially related to the acceptance of physical changes in female adolescents during puberty.