The relation of relative hormonal levels and physical development and social-emotional behavior in young adolescents

Abstract

The study examined the relation between timing of physical maturation and problems of adjustment and peer relations. The participants were 9-14-year-old boys (N=56) and girls (N=52). Assessments of physical maturation consisted of pubertal staging according to Tanner criteria and serum determinations of luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, testosterone, estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and androstenedione. There was approximately an equal number of boys and girls in each pubertal stage. The psychological measures were the Psychopathology and Emotional Tone subscales from the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire for Adolescents and interview questions to assess interactions with peers. Psychopathology and emotional tone (sad effect) scores were higher for boys with high-for-age adrenal androgens and lower for boys with high-for-age sex steroids. Behavioral manifestations of sexuality, interest in dating, was higher for boys with high-for-age adrenal androgens. Dating and spending time with friends were higher for boys with high-for-age gonadotropins. Psychopathology and emotional tone were higher for girls with high-for-age gonadotropins. The results indicate that high-for-age hormone level or early timing of puberty generally was related to adverse psychological consequences for boys and girls, with relations being stronger for boys than for girls.

Quality of early family relationships and individual differences in the timing of pubertal maturation in girls: A longitudinal test of an evolutionary model.

“…In particular, early maturing girls are at greater risk later in life for breast cancer (e.g., Kampert, Whittemore, & Paffenbarger, 1988;Vihko & Apter, 1986) and unhealthy weight gain (e.g., Ness, 1991;Wellens et al, 1992); have higher rates of teenage pregnancy (e.g., Manlove, 1997;Udry & Cliquet, 1982); are more likely to have lowbirthweight babies (Scholl et al, 1989); and tend to show more disturbances in body image, to report more emotional problems such as depression and anxiety, and to engage in more problem behaviors such as alcohol consumption and sexual promiscuity (e.g., Caspi & Moffitt, Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Bruce J. Ellis, who is now at the Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand, Electronic mail may be sent to b.eliis@psyc.canterbury.ac.nz. Flannery, Rowe, & Gulley, 1993;Graber, Lewinsohn, Seeley, & Brooks-Gunn, 1997;Mezzich et al, 1997;Susman, Nottleman, Inoff-Germain, Loriaux, & Chrousos, 1985). …”

“…1991; Flannery, Rowe, & Gulley, 1993;Graber, Lewinsohn, Seeley, & Brooks-Gunn, 1997;Mezzich et al, 1997;Susman, Nottleman, Inoff-Germain, Loriaux, & Chrousos, 1985).…”

Hormones and aggression in childhood and adolescence

“…) and experiential factors (experiences of success and failure are differently reflected in competencies and adjustment) contribute to these individual differences in hormone levels at puberty. The methodological approach, used to control for individual differences in timing, includes age as a covariate in analyses when relations among hormones and behavior are examined Susman, Dorn, & Chrousos, 1991;Susman et al, 1987Susman et al, , 1985.…”

Effet des androgènes sur l’activité sportive

“…A t'aide de diff6rents types de questionnaires chez l'adolescent il a pu ~tre d6mon-tr6 une relation significative entre la testost6ron6mie et le tonus 6motionnel, l'agressivit6 et le besoin de dominance [21,27,28]. La diminution de la tol6rance ~ la frustration semble 6galement d6pendre de la testost6rone.…”