Maternal personality and reproductive ambition in women is associated with salivary testosterone levels

Previous research has linked testosterone levels with sex-specific personality traits within women. The present study investigates the relation between salivary testosterone levels and specifically maternal personality traits in healthy adult women. Twenty-seven young women completed the Bem Sex Rol...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological psychology 2006, Vol.71 (1), p.29-32
Main Authors: Deady, D.K., Smith, M.J. Law, Sharp, M.A., Al-Dujaili, E.A.S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Behavioral psychophysiology
Biological and medical sciences
BSRI
Career Mobility
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gender Identity
Hormones and behavior
Humans
Maternal Behavior - psychology
Mothers - psychology
Personality
Personality traits
Personality. Affectivity
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Reproductive Behavior - psychology
Reproductive strategy
Saliva - chemistry
Sex role
Surveys and Questionnaires
Testosterone
Testosterone - analysis
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Summary:Previous research has linked testosterone levels with sex-specific personality traits within women. The present study investigates the relation between salivary testosterone levels and specifically maternal personality traits in healthy adult women. Twenty-seven young women completed the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI). Additional questions were asked about maternal personality (importance of having children, self-rated maternal/broodiness), reproductive ambition (ideal number of children, ideal own age at first child) and career orientation (importance of having career). Higher circulating testosterone levels were associated with lower scores on measures of maternal personality and reproductive ambition. There was no relation of career orientation with testosterone. A median split on BSRI masculinity revealed high scorers had higher testosterone levels than low scorers. There was no relation of BSRI femininity with testosterone. Results suggest maternal tendencies may be partly androgen driven.
ISSN:0301-0511
1873-6246
DOI:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2005.01.009