Self-reported physical and psychological experiences associated with female-specific physiological characteristics and perceived sports performance among university athletes

Abstract

Background and Study Aim. Female-specific physiological characteristics may be accompanied by physical and psychological symptoms in female athletes. These symptoms may coincide with changes in perceived readiness for training, participation, and sports performance. Although female athletes use various strategies to manage these physiological experiences during sports participation, the relationship between these experiences and perceived sports performance remains a matter of practical interest. This study examined the perceived effects of these physiological characteristics on sports performance among female athletes.

Materials and Methods. A descriptive mixed-methods design combining quantitative and qualitative approaches was used. Sixty female athletes participating in ten sports (cricket, basketball, football, athletics, taekwondo, judo, squash, badminton, tennis, and volleyball) were selected through a multistage sampling procedure. Quantitative data were collected using a validated researcher-developed questionnaire. Qualitative data were obtained through key informant interviews with three coaches. Questionnaire data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, and chi-square goodness-of-fit tests at an alpha level of 0.05, while interview data were analyzed thematically.

Results. Among the surveyed athletes, 68% reported changes in sports performance associated with menstruation, 72% reported fatigue during menstruation, and 65% reported reduced performance associated with fatigue. In addition, 70% reported worry related to excessive menstrual flow and 67% reported discomfort. The distributions of responses concerning perceived sports performance, physical and psychological experiences, and coping strategies differed significantly across the four response categories (p < 0.05), whereas responses concerning menstruation-related stigma and perceived support did not differ significantly (p = 0.241); 20% of athletes reported feeling unsupported because of stigma. Interviews with coaches provided complementary descriptions of fatigue, dysmenorrhoea, psychological discomfort, and the use of coping strategies such as pain management and adjustments to training schedules.

Conclusions. Female university athletes commonly reported physical and psychological experiences during menstruation that they perceived as affecting their sports performance. Athletes and coaches also reported using several strategies to manage these experiences. The findings highlight the relevance of menstrual health awareness, communication between athletes and coaches, and appropriate support for menstruating athletes. Because the study relied primarily on self-reported perceptions rather than objective performance measurements or physiological verification of menstrual-cycle phases, the findings should not be interpreted as evidence of causal effects of menstruation on sports performance.