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

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.