Role of androgens in externalizing behavior problems in adolescents

Abstract

While an association between androgens and different types of aggression has been well documented in male offenders, the influence of androgens on externalizing behavior in adolescents at risk for antisocial behavior has not been investigated so far. Plasma levels of the main androgen metabolites testosterone (T) and 5a-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) were measured in N = 119 14-year-olds (51 boys, 68 girls) from a prospective longitudinal study of children at risk. The Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Youth Self Report Form (YSR) were used to assess externalizing behavior at age 14. The CBCL revealed significant positive correlations between DHT levels and the subscales "externalizing problems" and the problem scales "aggressive behavior" and "delinquent behavior" in male adolescents. Only the YSR subscale "delinquent behavior" exhibited a marginally significant association with DHT. Neither scale showed any significant correlations between androgen levels and externalizing behavior in female adolescents. Earlier findings of androgen effects on aggressive and antisocial behavior in male offenders were confirmed for male adolescents from a general population sample. The results stress the importance of the androgen metabolite DHT.