title: Adrenarche and the Emotional and Behavioral Problems of Late Childhood.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mental and behavioral disorders increase in prevalence with the passage through puberty. Yet the first symptoms for many children emerge between seven and 11 years, before the pubertal rise in gonadal hormones. A possibility that symptom onset may be linked to the adrenarchal rise in androgens has been little explored.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Childhood to Adolescence Transition Study recruited a stratified random sample of 1,239 eight-nine year olds from primary schools in Melbourne, Australia. Saliva samples were assayed for dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S), and testosterone. Emotional and behavioral problems were assessed through parental report on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In males, high levels of all androgens were associated with greater total difficulties and peer problems. Higher dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone were associated with emotional symptoms and DHEA-S with conduct problems. In females, DHEA-S was associated with peer problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In late childhood, androgens are associated with emotional and behavioral problems in males, raising a possibility that the adrenarchal transition plays a contributing role. If so, the late primary school years may prove to be an important phase for preventing the onset of mental health and behavioral problems in boys.
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Adolescent Health, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: lisa.mundy@mcri.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lisa K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Mundy
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Adolescent Health, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Romaniuk
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Adolescent Health, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Canterford
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Adolescent Health, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hearps
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Russell M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Viner
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Psychology and Counseling, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Jordana K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Bayer
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Julian G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Carlin
authors.affiliation: Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon.
authors.forename: Nicholas B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Adolescent Health, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Patton
mesh_terms: D050499:Adrenarche / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Adrenarche; Behavior problems; CATS study; Emotional problems; Hormones; Peer relationships; Puberty