title: Conscientiousness and adherence to the oral contraceptive pill: A prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assess the association between conscientiousness and adherence to the oral contraceptive pill (OCP), and examine if such a relationship is independent of a measure of prospective memory and a range of social cognitive variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from 150 OCP users at baseline, and 99 provided follow-up data four weeks later. Conscientiousness, a range of social cognitive predictors and prospective memory were assessed at baseline. OCP adherence was measured at baseline, and again at Time 2. Data were analysed using correlation and multiple linear regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher conscientiousness was associated with higher overall OCP adherence in both cross-sectional (r = -0.28, p < 0.01) and prospective analysis (r = -0.34, p < 0.01). Conscientiousness predicted OCP adherence at Time 2, adjusting for OCP adherence at Time 1 (R(2) change = 0.02, p = 0.04). The association was reduced to non-significance when social cognitive predictors and prospective memory were included in the multivariable model. Prospective memory was an independent predictor of OCP adherence at Time 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to identify an association between conscientiousness and OCP adherence. The association is not independent from social cognitive predictors and prospective memory. Facet-level analysis of conscientiousness and formal mediation analyses are recommended in future replications.
authors.affiliation: a School of Psychology , National University of Ireland , Galway , Ireland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leahy
authors.affiliation: a School of Psychology , National University of Ireland , Galway , Ireland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Treacy
authors.affiliation: a School of Psychology , National University of Ireland , Galway , Ireland.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Molloy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D010551:Personality; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral
keywords: adherence; beliefs; conscientiousness; intention; oral contraceptive pill; planning; prospective memory