Moods in everyday situations: effects of menstrual cycle, work, and stress hormones.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined women's mood responsiveness on work and off days during different phases of the menstrual cycle.


METHODS
Self-reports of negative, positive, and energy dimensions of mood were obtained throughout the day on two work and two off days during the luteal and follicular phases of the menstrual cycle in 203 women nurses. Individual differences in daytime and nighttime epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol were assessed.


RESULTS
High daytime norepinephrine, epinephrine, and cortisol levels were associated with higher ratings of stress and tired, and with lower ratings of happy. The phase of the menstrual cycle and the day factor (workday, off day) were also associated with mood differences, and the direction of the effects depended on hormone levels and hormone sampling period.


CONCLUSIONS
The experience of moods is affected by the arousal-related interaction of hormone levels with the phase of the menstrual cycle and occupational stress.
Davydov
Dmitry M
DM
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. dadimati@mail.ru
Shapiro
David
D
Goldstein
Iris B
IB
Chicz-DeMet
Aleksandra
A
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000523:psychology; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology*
D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine