Bilgiden Farkındalığa: Menstrual Döngünün Psikolojik ve Sosyokültürel Bir Paradigma Olarak Yeniden Düşünülmesi

Öz

Bu çalışma, menstrual döngünün yalnızca biyolojik ve hormonal bir süreç olarak ele alınmasına dayalı indirgemeci yaklaşımları aşarak, döngüyü biyopsikososyal ve kültürel bir ritim olarak yeniden konumlandırmayı amaçlamaktadır. Alanyazında menstrual sağlık, hijyen ve patoloji odaklı çalışmaların yoğun olduğu; ancak menstrual döngü farkındalığını psikolojik iyilik hali, özşefkat ve toplumsal cinsiyet bağlamında ele alan bütüncül araştırmaların sınırlı kaldığı görülmektedir. Bu gereksinimden hareketle çalışma, uluslararası ve Türkiye literatürünü kapsayan kuramsal bir kaynak taramasına dayalı olarak yapılandırılmıştır. Biyopsikososyal çerçevede yürütülen analizler, menstrual döngünün kadınların duygulanım düzenleme süreçleri, enerji örüntüleri, öz-değer algısı ve toplumsal konumlanışları üzerinde belirleyici etkiler taşıdığını ortaya koymaktadır. Döngünün bastırılması, patolojikleştirilmesi ve görünmezleştirilmesinin ise bireysel psikolojik zorlanmaların ötesinde kolektif yabancılaşma ve bedensel kopuş ürettiği saptanmıştır. Sonuç olarak çalışma, menstrual döngü farkındalığını dönüştürücü bir paradigma olarak önermekte; ruh sağlığı, eğitim ve kadın sağlığı politikaları açısından bütüncül, döngüsel ve kültürel duyarlılığı olan müdahale modellerinin geliştirilmesi gerektiğine işaret etmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Menstrual döngü farkındalığı
• biyopsikososyal model
• psikolojik iyilik hali
• özşefkat
• toplumsal cinsiyet ideolojisi

From Knowledge to Awareness: Rethinking the Menstrual Cycle as a Psychological and Sociocultural Paradigm

Öz

This study aims to move beyond reductionist approaches that conceptualize the menstrual cycle solely as a biological and hormonal process and to reposition it as a biopsychosocial and cultural rhythm. A review of the literature indicates that while research has predominantly focused on menstrual health, hygiene, and pathology, comprehensive studies addressing menstrual cycle awareness within the frameworks of psychological well-being, self-compassion, and gender remain limited. In response to this gap, the study is structured as a theoretical review encompassing both international and Turkish literature. Analyses conducted within a biopsychosocial framework demonstrate that the menstrual cycle plays a significant role in women’s emotion regulation processes, energy patterns, self-worth perceptions, and social positioning. Furthermore, the suppression, pathologization, and invisibilization of the menstrual cycle are found to produce not only individual psychological distress but also collective alienation and bodily disconnection. In conclusion, the study proposes menstrual cycle awareness as a transformative paradigm and highlights the need for holistic, cyclical, and culturally sensitive intervention models in mental health, education, and women’s health policies.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Menstrual cycle awareness
• biopsychosocial model
• psychological well-being
• self-compassion
• gender ideology

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