Barrier, Booster, or Strength? A Text Mining–Enhanced Qualitative Inquiry into the Role of the Menstrual Cycle in Female Athletes' Performance

Abstract

This study aims to examine the impact of the physical and emotional changes experienced by female athletes during the menstrual cycle on their sports performance. Qualitative data obtained from 346 Reddit comments were analyzed using digital text mining techniques. The research employed sentiment analysis (NRC and VADER), topic modeling (LDA), and word association analysis (Word2Vec), alongside interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) and traditional content analysis to deeply explore user experiences. The findings reveal that female athletes experience significant variations in energy levels, motivation, focus, and physical capacity across different phases of the menstrual cycle. While some participants reported decreased performance during menstruation, others described enhanced strength and energy, referring to this as a form of "period power." The role of hygiene products and their practical usability in shaping performance outcomes was also emphasized. Additionally, the study draws attention to the potential effects of hormonal changes on injury risk. In this context, it concludes that the menstrual cycle affects sports performance not only physiologically but also psychologically. The results highlight the importance of developing individualized training strategies tailored to the phases of the menstrual cycle and to athletes’ personal experiences.

Keywords

• Female Athletes
• Menstrual Cycle
• Performance
• Sentiment Analysis
• Text Mining

Engel, Güçlendirici mi Yoksa Avantaj mı? Kadın Sporcuların Performansında Menstrüel Döngünün Rolüne Dair Metin Madenciliği Destekli Nitel Bir İnceleme

Abstract

Bu çalışma, kadın sporcuların menstrüel döngü sürecinde yaşadığı fiziksel ve duygusal değişimlerin spor performansları üzerindeki etkisini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Reddit platformundan elde edilen 346 yoruma dayalı nitel veriler, dijital metin madenciliği teknikleri kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Çalışmada duygu analizi (NRC ve VADER), konu modelleme (LDA) ve sözcük ilişkilendirme analizi (Word2Vec) gibi yöntemlerin yanı sıra yorumsamacı fenomenolojik analiz (IPA) ve geleneksel içerik analizi de kullanılarak kullanıcı deneyimleri derinlemesine incelenmiştir. Bulgular, kadın sporcuların menstrüel döngünün farklı evrelerinde enerji düzeylerinde, motivasyonlarında, odaklanmalarında ve fiziksel kapasitelerinde belirgin dalgalanmalar yaşadıklarını göstermektedir. Katılımcıların bir kısmı adet döneminde performans düşüşü bildirmişken, bazıları bu dönemde güç ve enerjilerinin arttığını, bu durumu “regl gücü” olarak tanımladıklarını ifade etmiştir. Hijyen ürünlerinin kullanışlılığı ve performans üzerindeki etkisine de dikkat çekilmiştir. Ayrıca, hormonal değişimlerin sakatlık riski üzerindeki olası etkilerine işaret edilmiştir. Bu bağlamda çalışma, menstrüel döngünün spor performansını yalnızca fizyolojik değil, aynı zamanda psikolojik olarak da etkilediği sonucuna varmaktadır. Sonuçlar, menstrüel döngü evrelerine ve sporcuların bireysel deneyimlerine göre özelleştirilmiş antrenman stratejilerinin geliştirilmesinin önemini ortaya koymaktadır.

Keywords

• Kadın Sporcular
• Menstrüel Döngü
• Performans
• Duygu Analizi
• Metin Madenciliği

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