Date of Award

2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Casto, Kathleen

Area of Concentration

Biopsychology

Abstract

Cortisol is a steroid hormone that plays a role in the physiological response to stress. One standard pattern of cortisol change is the diurnal rhythm which peaks in the morning and declines throughout the day. Disruptions in this pattern are linked to chronic stress and poorer mental health outcomes. Previous research has found blunted cortisol responses as well as increased stress and depressive scores in hormonal contraceptive (HC) users compared to non-users. Yet little is known about the effect of HC use on average diurnal cortisol patterns. The goal of this study is to examine differences in diurnal cortisol pattern and mood between HC users and non-users. Twenty-seven individuals assigned female at birth were recruited with about half using HCs. Participants came to the lab three times a day (i.e., morning, afternoon, and evening), once a week, across three weeks for a total of nine sessions. At each session they completed a questionnaire with mood surveys and gave a salivary sample. Mixed ANOVAS were conducted for both mood variables and cortisol levels. There was no main effect of HC use on Mood. HC-users were found to have a lower average morning cortisol level compared to non-users. Future research should continue to explore the effect of hormonal contraceptives on hormonal physiology associated with behavior and, more broadly, on important life outcomes related to mental health, responses to stress, and social functioning.

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