Oral contraceptive use - Implications for cognitive and emotional functioning

This study investigated the role of oral contraception use versus nonuse as a moderator variable differentially influencing cognitive-emotional proces ses. Seventy-six healthy women (29 users and 47 nonusers; 18 to 48 years ol d), completed the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, the Clinical Anal ysis Questionnaire, the Rotter Scale of locus of control, the Daily Hassles Scale, and a Repertory Grid. A subsample (N = 33) also volunteered for a b lood draw. Hormonal levels of progesterone and estrogen mostly were unrelat ed to cognitive and emotional measures, and contraindicated the "chemical s uppression" proposition. Alternatively, when cognitive-emotional functionin g was examined separately for users and nonusers, cognitive factors includi ng the appraisal of stress, loci of control, and self-integration were impl icated with specific patterns of negative affect and much more so for users than for nonusers. For the most part, oral contraceptive use versus nonuse seemed to influence the saliency rather than the nature of cognitive-emoti onal patterns. Discussion focused on oral contraceptive use as a moderator variable and the need for longitudinal research to clarify the evolving, bi opsychosocial influence of hormonal regulatory treatment.