Published Paper Details:

Objective: The present study aimed to examine the biopsychological influence of menstrual cycle phases on mood state and performance consistency among elite female precision shooters. Specifically, the study investigated whether phase-wise variations in mood are associated with changes in shooting performance across different shooting disciplines. Method: A repeated-measures correlational research design was employed involving 61 national-level female shooters representing rifle, pistol, and shotgun events at the Madhya Pradesh Shooting Academy, Bhopal. Mood state was assessed using the Profile of Mood States (POMS), while shooting performance scores were recorded during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Performance evaluation followed the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) competition standards, and scores were normalized according to official event scoring systems (10 m Air Rifle = 654.0 decimal scoring scale, 10 m Air Pistol = 600 points, Skeet Shooting = 125 targets). Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, paired sample t-tests, and Pearson product-moment correlation to examine phase-wise differences and relationships between mood and performance variables. Conclusion: The findings revealed significant phase-wise variations in mood state and normalized shooting performance; however, mood fluctuations did not significantly predict performance consistency among athletes. These results suggest that menstrual cycle phases may influence psychological and performance outcomes independently, indicating the presence of adaptive mechanisms that help stabilize performance in elite female precision shooters.