Aggression, dominance, and affiliation: Their relationships with androgen levels and intelligence in 5-year-old children.
This study explores the potential relationship between social behavior (aggression, dominance, and affiliation) and testosterone, androstenedione, and DHEA measurements in 5-year-old children while also analyzing the moderating effect of IQ on the hormone-behavior relationship. 129 healthy normal Iberian children (60 boys and 69 girls) were videotaped in free play interactions in the school playground. Their behavior was then evaluated with particular emphasis on aggression, government, and affiliation. Testosterone, androstenedione, and DHEA levels were measured using an enzyme immunoassay technique in saliva samples. A test (K-BIT) which provides an IQ measurement for children was also administered to subjects. The correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between the behavioral factor of Provocation and androstenedione in boys, and a regression analysis indicated that this relationship was moderated in a positive direction by the subject's intelligence. In girls, we observed a positive relationship between testosterone and Affectivity, with this relationship being moderated in a negative direction by intelligence.
Area of Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country, San Sebastian, Spain.
Aitziber
A
Azurmendi
Francisco
F
Braza
Ainhoa
A
García
Paloma
P
Braza
José M
JM
Muñoz
José R
JR
Sánchez-Martín
D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology*; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012919:Social Behavior; D012930:Social Dominance; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism
D000728:Androgens; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone