Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
203,203 studies31 sourcesUpdated 6 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BYComprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology

Does the use of hormonal contraceptives induce negative metacognitions, brooding, and depressive symptoms in an adolescent community sample?

  • Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair1
  • Marius Stavang1
  • Ingrid Grønnæss2
  • Helene Borgen Myhr1
  • Roger Hagen1,3,4
  • Trond Viggo Grøntvedt1
  • Steven W Gangestad5
  • Mons Bendixen1
5 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
  2. 2Barne- og familiesenteret (Children and Family Center), Holmestrand Municipality, Holmestrand, Norway.
  3. 3Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
  4. 4Research Institute, Modum Bad, Vikersund, Norway.
  5. 5Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, USA.
Read full textPDFDOICite

Abstract

In western countries women are much more likely to suffer from depression than men are. Some reports have suggested that there is an increased risk of depression diagnoses in young women who start using hormonal contraception. Using an established approach to quantifying levels effective dosages of estradiol, progestins, and androgens in specific brands and types of hormonal contraception, we address a) whether hormonal contraception use in general is associated with depressive symptoms, and b) which contraceptive hormonal effects are associated with depressive symptoms as measured with the Beck Depression Inventory, brooding and negative metacognitions about rumination in a community sample of 757 young women (age 16-19). We also consider associations with age and relationship status. We detected no overall effect of hormonal contraception on depressive symptoms. We furthermore detected no effects of specific hormonal dosages on any of the three outcome measures depressive symptoms, brooding or negative metacognitions. The results are discussed in light of previous robust but limited findings of an association and the possibility that health care system contact increases likelihood of more health care services, rather than robust causal effects of hormones.

Related

  1. Liver Injury Due to Hormonal Contraceptives in the Modern Era.
    Raj Vuppalanchi, A Sidney Barritt, Anjali Rai +5
    Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the LiverPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textPharmacology & toxicologyEurope PMCPMC
  2. Efficacy and safety of non-hormonal pharmacotherapies for depressive and anxiety symptoms during the menopausal transition and postmenopause: a systematic review.
    Mojtaba Hedayati Ch, Zahra Bostani Khalesi, Mahmood Abedinzade
    BMC psychiatryPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDFull textEndocrinology & metabolismEurope PMCDOAJ
  3. Beyond independent effects: stress and body image in adolescent depressive risk
    Hari Jo, Soyun Park, Boyoung Kim
    BMC Public HealthPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Psychiatry & mental healthCrossref
  4. Dose-related depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation during cabergoline therapy in an adolescent with macroprolactinoma.
    Saniha Malik, Amira Al Harrasi, Maryam Issa Al Kiyumi +1
    JCEM case reportsPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textEndocrinology & metabolismEurope PMC
  5. Association between duration of smoking cessation and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study
    Kanon Abe, Sho Nakakubo, Takehiko Doi +4
    Environmental Health and Preventive MedicinePeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textPhysiologyJ-STAGE

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{kennair2026does,
  title = {{Does the use of hormonal contraceptives induce negative metacognitions, brooding, and depressive symptoms in an adolescent community sample?}},
  author = {Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair and Marius Stavang and Ingrid Grønnæss and Helene Borgen Myhr and Roger Hagen and Trond Viggo Grøntvedt and Steven W Gangestad and Mons Bendixen},
  journal = {Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1016/j.cpnec.2026.100386},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42921161},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Does the use of hormonal contraceptives induce negative metacognitions, brooding, and depressive symptoms in an adolescent community sample?
AU  - Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair
AU  - Marius Stavang
AU  - Ingrid Grønnæss
AU  - Helene Borgen Myhr
AU  - Roger Hagen
AU  - Trond Viggo Grøntvedt
AU  - Steven W Gangestad
AU  - Mons Bendixen
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/19
JO  - Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology
DO  - 10.1016/j.cpnec.2026.100386
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42921161
AB  - In western countries women are much more likely to suffer from depression than men are. Some reports have suggested that there is an increased risk of depression diagnoses in young women who start using hormonal contraception. Using an established approach to quantifying levels effective dosages of estradiol, progestins, and androgens in specific brands and types of hormonal contraception, we address a) whether hormonal contraception use in general is associated with depressive symptoms, and b) which contraceptive hormonal effects are associated with depressive symptoms as measured with the Beck Depression Inventory, brooding and negative metacognitions about rumination in a community sample of 757 young women (age 16-19). We also consider associations with age and relationship status. We detected no overall effect of hormonal contraception on depressive symptoms. We furthermore detected no effects of specific hormonal dosages on any of the three outcome measures depressive symptoms, brooding or negative metacognitions. The results are discussed in light of previous robust but limited findings of an association and the possibility that health care system contact increases likelihood of more health care services, rather than robust causal effects of hormones.
SN  - 2666-4976
ER  -