Postnatal testosterone levels and disorder relevant behavior in the second year of life. Academic Article

abstract

• The objective of the current study was to investigate the relationship between testosterone collected at 3-4 months of age and sex-linked disorder-relevant behaviors in the second year of life. Eighty-four children participated at 3-4 (when salivary testosterone levels were obtained and second to fourth digit ratios were measured) and 18-24 months of age (when behavioral ratings of aggression and verbal ability were coded from two 8-min play sessions). Parents also completed the Brief Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment, and the four subscales (Internalizing, Externalizing, Dysregulation, and Autism Spectrum Disorder) were used to indicate child specific problems. Greater postnatal testosterone levels in early infancy were predictive of more male-typical behaviors in the second year of life (i.e., more autism spectrum behaviors, less time vocalizing, and more Internalizing Problems). These results support the hypothesis that early infancy may be another critical period for the development of gender-linked behavior.

authors

• Alexander, Gerianne

published proceedings

• Biol Psychol

altmetric score

• 14.77

author list (cited authors)

• Saenz, J., & Alexander, G. M.

citation count

• 25

complete list of authors

• Saenz, Janet||Alexander, Gerianne M

publication date

• January 2013

publisher

• Elsevier  Publisher

published in

• Biological Psychology  Journal

keywords

• Age Factors
• Aggression
• Analysis Of Variance
• Child, Preschool
• Developmental Disabilities
• Female
• Fingers
• Humans
• Infant
• Male
• Postnatal Androgens
• Regression Analysis
• Saliva
• Sex Characteristics
• Sex Differences
• Social–emotional Problems
• Testosterone
• Verbal Behavior

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2013.05.011

start page

• 152

end page

• 159

volume

• 94

issue

• 1

URL

• http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1016%2Fj.biopsycho.2013.05.011