Effects of girls' hormonal status on depressive and aggressive symptoms over the course of one year

• Published in: Journal of youth and adolescence 1991-04, Vol.20 (2), p.191-215
• Main Authors: Paikoff, R L, Brooks-Gunn, J, Warren, M P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggression; Aggressiveness; Children & youth; Delinquency; Females; Hormones; Mental depression; Physical Development; Social research
• ISSN: 0047-2891; 1573-6601
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01537608

Associations between hormonal and physical status and girls' depressive affect, aggressive affect, and delinquent behavior were studied over the course of one year. Seventy-two White girls, aged 10-14 at initial data collection, were seen twice. Endocrinological status (estradiol, luteinizing hormone [LH], folicle stimulating hormone [FSH], testosterone, and dehydroepiandosterone sulfate [DHEAS] at Time 1, physical development (menarche, secondary sexual characteristics) and maturational timing at Times 1 and 2 were used to predict self- and maternal reports of depressive affect, and self-reports of aggressive affect and delinquent behavior at Time 2. It was posited that initial endocrinological status, as represented by hormonal categories derived by Warren and Brooks-Gunn [(1989) "Mood and Behavior at Adolescence: Evidence for Hormonal Factors, " Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol. 69, pp. 77-83] and reflecting estradiol, LH, and FSH levels, would be associated with affective expression and delinquent behavior one year later. DHEAS, however, was not expected to be associated with affective expression a year later as it is thought to be more indicative of adrenal changes that are in part environmentally mediated. Initial affective expression was hypothesized to account for more of the variation than prior hormonal status. Hormonal categories predicted depressive and aggressive affect a year later, while DHEAS, physical status, and maturational timing did not. Initial hormonal categories were associated with subsequent reports of delinquent behavior, although not after physical status or prior reports of delinquency were entered into the regression. Initial reports of affective expression accounted for a far greater proportion of the variance in aggressive affect and delinquent behavior than did hormonal or physical status.