Relations Between Hormone Levels and Observational Measures of Aggressive Behavior of Young Adolescents in Family Interactions

• Published in: Developmental psychology Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 129 - 139
• Main Authors: Inoff-Germain, Gale, Arnold, Gina Snyder, Nottelmann, Editha D, Susman, Elizabeth J, Cutler, Gordon B, Chrousos, George P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Psychological Association 01-01-1988
• Subjects: Adolescent; Aggressive Behavior; Androgens; Biological and medical sciences; Developmental psychology; Estradiol; Family Relations; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gonadotropic Hormones; Human; Luteinizing Hormone; Physiological Correlates; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Puberty; Testosterone; Human; Hormone; Puberty; Sexual development; Adolescent; Family environment; Familial relation; Behavior; Aggressiveness
• ISSN: 0012-1649; 1939-0599
• DOI: 10.1037/0012-1649.24.1.129

Relations between hormone levels and aggressive behavior of adolescents in family interactions were examined in 30 boys and 30 girls, 9 to 14 years of age. The adolescents represented all five stages of pubertal development (Tanner criteria). Circulating levels of gonadotropins (luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone), gonadal steroids (testosterone and estradiol), adrenal androgens (dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, and androstenedione), and testoster-one-estradiol binding globulin were assessed. These hormones are responsible for growth and sexual development during puberty and correlate with Tanner stage. The behavioral measures described the adolescents' expressions of anger and attempts to control or defy their parents and were based on videotaped family interactions during problem-solving tasks. On the basis of multiple regression analyses, higher estradiol and androstenedione levels were associated with higher degrees of aggressive behaviors for girls. Findings were sparse for boys. Findings are discussed in terms of (a) effects of degree of stability of hormone levels on detection of hormone-behavior relations, (b) organizing and activating influences of hormones on behavior, and (c) other mechanisms possibly underlying the relations.