Hormones, Emotional Dispositions, and Aggressive Attributes in Young Adolescents

TLDR

Hormone levels vary with pubertal stage and are considered stable biological markers. The study measured serum gonadotropins, gonadal steroids, adrenal androgens, and testosterone‑estradiol binding globulin in 108 adolescents (ages 9‑14) across all pubertal stages, and assessed self‑reported anger, nervousness, sadness, impulse control and mother‑reported acting‑out, aggressive behavior, rebellious traits. In boys, higher androstenedione and lower testosterone‑estradiol binding globulin were linked to increased acting‑out behavior and higher sad affect, respectively, while no such hormone‑behavior associations were found in girls.

Abstract

Relations among hormone levels, emotional dispositions, and aggressive attributes were examined in 56 boys and 52 girls, age 9 to 14 years. The adolescents represented all 5 stages of pubertal development. Serum levels of gonadotropins, gonadal steroids, adrenal androgens, and testosterone-estradiol binding globulin were assessed. Levels of these hormones were related to stage of pubertal development and were assumed to represent relatively stable biological characteristics. The emotional dispositions assessed were adolescent self-reported anger, nervousness, sadness, and impulse control. The aggressive attributes assessed were mother-reported acting out and aggressive behavior problems and rebellious and nasty characteristics. Hormone levels were related to emotional dispositions and aggressive attributes for boys but not for girls. For example, higher levels of androstenedione in boys were related to higher levels of acting-out behavior problems. Level of testosterone-estradiol binding globulin was negatively related to sad affect and acting out behavior.