Hormones and Behavior

Abstract

Behavioral maturation is a major part of adolescence that, together with the many concomitant physical changes of puberty, transforms children into young adults. The dramatic hormonal changes that also occur at this time have prompted interest in the role of hormones in adolescent behavior. This survey commences by reviewing why the psychobehavioral health of adolescents is of particular importance today. The following sections explain the regulation and developmental course of hormones of significance in puberty and adolescence. To streamline the enormous complexity of the neuroendocrine system, discussion focuses on three key elements of adolescent maturation: reproduction (the gonads), stress (adrenals), and affective-cognitive processing (brain). Note that the term ‘neuroendocrine’ signifies that the nervous and endocrine systems essentially form a functional unit; however, each undergoes significant albeit slightly different schedules of maturational change during adolescence. The relationship of hormones and behavior in adolescence must be understood to operate within a network of interacting developmental, physiological, perceptual, and social forces. A heuristic model of these developmental biosocial dynamics is provided to walk the reader through the complexities. Then, translation of the insights gained from hormone-behavior dynamics for addressing the practical problem of adolescent mental health is applied to the urgent matter of depression. A consideration of implications for global youth concludes the discussion.