title: Testosterone/cortisol ratio in response to acute stress: a possible marker of risk for marital violence.
abstract: Testosterone to cortisol (T/C) ratios could be associated with feelings and expression of anger as high testosterone and low cortisol levels indicate a predisposition to violence. The basal T/C ratio has recently been proposed as a marker for proneness to social aggression; so far, however, only its value as an indicator of state anger or violence has been investigated. Given this, we aimed to establish whether the T/C ratio response to acute stress was a specific psychobiological feature in individuals with a history of violence, namely, perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV). T/C ratio and anger responses were compared in men jailed for IPV and controls using the Trier Social Stress Test. IPV perpetrators had higher T/C ratios than controls, during the preparation period, and 15 and 30 minutes post-task. In IPV perpetrators, high T/C ratios were linked to better self-esteem and good mental health. An increase in anger may increase proneness to violence by altering hormones and, thereby, increasing T/C ratios. The basal T/C ratio together with acute stress responses and other indicators could serve as a marker to identify men at high risk of reacting violently to their partners.
authors: Psychobiology Department, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Romero-Martínez
authors: E
authors: E
authors: González-Bono
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Lila
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Moya-Albiol
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D013179:Spouse Abuse; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone