Effects of oral contraceptives on daily self-ratings of positive and negative affect

• Published in: Journal of psychosomatic research Vol. 51; no. 5; pp. 647 - 658
• Main Authors: Oinonen, Kirsten A, Mazmanian, Dwight
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.11.2001; New York, NY Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Affect; Affect - drug effects; Affectivity. Emotion; Biological and medical sciences; Contraceptives, Oral - pharmacology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hormone levels; Hormones; Humans; Menstruation - psychology; Mood; Negative affect; Oral contraceptives; Personality. Affectivity; Positive affect; Premenstrual Syndrome - drug therapy; Premenstrual Syndrome - psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Selfassessment; Surveys and Questionnaires; Survivor effect; Women; Survivor effect; Mood; Hormones; Oral contraceptives; Positive affect; Negative affect; Human; Consumption; Affect affectivity; Self evaluation; Use; Oral administration; Duration; Student; Family story; Young adult; Mental disorder; Female; Contraceptive; Day to day variation; Antecedent; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0022-3999; 1879-1360
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-3999(01)00240-9

Objectives: The relationship between affect and duration of oral contraceptive (OC) use was investigated. Method: Ninety-six women (17 first-time OC users, 34 long-time users, and 45 never-users) completed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ) daily for 35 days. This study was the first to examine positive affect variability; and personal family psychiatric history; and to compare early-, late-, and never-users of OCs. Results: Triphasic users experienced greater variability in positive affect across the cycle, likely due to the variable hormone levels. Withdrawal of a constant level of hormones (monophasics) during early use was associated with greater variability in positive affect than withdrawal of changing hormonal levels (triphasics). Furthermore, personal and family psychiatric history may mediate an effect of OCs on negative affect variability. Conclusions: OCs and, therefore, hormones can alter day-to-day affect variability. Four variables are associated with this effect: duration of use, OC type, personal psychiatric history, and family psychiatric history.