title: Sex Hormone/Cortisol Ratios Differentially Modulate Risk-Taking in Men and Women.
abstract: The present study aimed to extend the original focus of the dual-hormone hypothesis on testosterone and cortisol involvement in risk-taking to other sex hormones: estrogen and progesterone. The study also examined two alternative models for the proposed relationship between cortisol and sex steroids and for their joint influence on risk-taking: interaction and ratio terms. In all, 40 women and 37 men were tested for circulating sex hormones and provided self-reports on risk-taking. The findings suggest that sex hormone-cortisol ratios differentially modulate risk-taking in men and women: In men, high ratios were associated with risk-taking, whereas in women the opposite pattern was found. The findings are discussed in light of evolutionary assumptions regarding sex differences in neuroendocrine mechanisms, suggesting sex differences in neural sensitivity to sex hormones in risk-taking.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychology, The Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel, Emek Yezreel, Israel.
authors.forename: Efrat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barel
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Econmics and Management, The Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel, Emek Yezreel, Israel.
authors.forename: Shosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shahrabani
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Behavioral Sciences, The Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel, Emek Yezreel, Israel.
authors.forename: Orna
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tzischinsky
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: DHH; cortisol; risk-taking; sex differences; sex hormones