title: Salivary testosterone and cortisol are jointly related to pro-environmental behavior in men.
abstract: Recently, cortisol has been suggested to moderate the positive relationship between testosterone and antisocial behavior. More precisely, high testosterone levels have been found to be related to aggressive or dominant behavior especially when cortisol levels were low. In the present study, we aimed to extend these findings to pro-environmental behavior as an indicator of prosocial behavior. In a first step, 147 male participants provided information on their everyday pro-environmental behavior by completing an online questionnaire on various energy-saving behaviors. In a second step, subjects provided two saliva samples for the assessment of testosterone and cortisol on two subsequent mornings after awakening. We found that testosterone was negatively related to pro-environmental behavior, but only in men with low cortisol. In conclusion, our findings provide first evidence for the joint association of testosterone and cortisol with everyday pro-environmental behavior. These results further reinforce the importance of considering interdependent hormone systems simultaneously rather than focusing on a single hormone.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy , University of Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Silja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sollberger
authors.affiliation: b Center for Comparative and International Studies (CIS) and Institute for Science, Technology and Policy (ISTP) , ETH Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bernauer
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy , University of Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ehlert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012919:Social Behavior; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013739:Testosterone / Q000032:analysis*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Testosterone; cortisol; pro-environmental behavior; prosocial behavior; testosterone/cortisol ratio