Androgen levels and anger and impulsivity measures as predictors of physical, verbal and indirect aggression in boys and girls

PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY

卷:36

Article

Sanchez-Martin, Jose R.¹  Azurmendi, Aitziber²  Pascual-Sagastizabal, Eider¹  Cardas, Jaione³  Braza, Francisco⁴  Braza, Paloma⁵  Carreras, Maria R.⁵  Munoz, Jose M.⁵ 

[1] Univ Basque Country, Psychobiol Res Lab, CSIC Associated Unit, Fac Psychol, San Sebastian 20018, Spain

[2] Univ Basque Country, Psychobiol Res Lab, CSIC Associated Unit, Dev & Educ Psychol Dept, San Sebastian 20018, Spain

[3] Univ Publ Navarra, Dept Psychol & Pedag, Pamplona 31006, Spain

[4] CSIC, Spanish Council Sci Res, Donana Biol Stn, Seville 41092, Spain

[5] Univ Cadiz, Child Dev & Social Risk Unit, CSIC Associated Unit, Fac Sci Educ, Puerto Real 11519, Spain

关键词: Testosterone;    Androstenedione;    Aggression;    Anger;    Anger-control;    Impulsivity;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.10.011

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Previous studies indicate that androgen levels and certain psychological characteristics such as anger and impulsivity are related to the development and maintenance of aggression. Further studies are required to analyze the potential predictor role of the interaction of said factors on aggressive behavior. 90 nine-year-old children (44 boys and 46 girls) were assessed in relation to their levels of physical, verbal and indirect aggression, using a peer-rating technique. Testosterone and androstenedione levels were analyzed using an enzymoimmunoassay technique in saliva samples. Anger (state and trait) and anger control were measured using the STAXI-NA, and impulsivity was measured through the MFF-20. A General Linear Model revealed that sex was the best predictor for aggression measures, with boys scoring higher than girls in physical, verbal and indirect aggression; after sex, testosterone was found to be the best predictor (in a positive sense) of all three types of aggressive behavior studied. In addition to observing a main effect of androstenedione on physical and verbal aggression, a 'state anger * - androstenedione' interaction was found to predict these types of aggression, with androstenedione acting as a moderator (inhibitor) of the effects of anger on these behaviors; also, a 'state anger * testosterone' interaction was found to predict verbal aggression. The results support the idea that, after sex, androgens constitute a biological marker to be taken into consideration in relation to individual differences in aggressive behavior. It is possible that at the age of 9, testosterone tends to increase aggression, while androstenedione tends to moderate (inhibit) the effects of anger on aggression. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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