Body Awareness and Perception Across Menstrual Phases:

Primary outcomes

1. Body Awareness Questionnaire (BAQ)

   Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year

   The Body Awareness Questionnaire (BAQ) is a self-assessment tool consisting of 18 items divided into four subscales (16). These subscales evaluate attentiveness to (1) bodily processes, including changes and reactions in the body, (2) the sleep-wake cycle, (3) the ability to predict the onset of illness, and (4) the prediction of bodily reactions. The questionnaire employs a 7-point Likert scale for scoring, where higher scores reflect greater body awareness. The BAQ has a total possible score ranging from a minimum of 18 to a maximum of 126. The Turkish adaptation of the BAQ, including validity and reliability analyses, was conducted by Karaca and Bayar, ensuring its applicability in Turkish-speaking populations (17).

2. Body Perception Scale (BPS)

   Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year

   The Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ), developed by Cash, is a self-report Likert-type scale designed to assess the structure of body image and attitudinal components of self-perception (18). The original instrument comprises 69 items, which evaluate three psychological dimensions characterized by emotional, cognitive, and behavioral traits, as well as three physical dimensions: physical appearance, physical competence, and biological integrity. The cognitive and behavioral aspects were subsequently consolidated under the category of 'orientation,' resulting in six distinct subscales within the questionnaire. An additional subscale, 'satisfaction with body domains,' was later introduced, bringing the total to seven subgroups. Lower mean scores on the MBSRQ indicate the presence of body image disturbances, providing valuable insights into individuals' attitudes and perceptions toward their bodies (18,19