Citation

Von der Pahlen B, Lindman R, Sarkola T, Makisalo H, Eriksson CJP. Aggressive Behav. 2002; 28(4): 273-280.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, International Society for Research on Aggression, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Healthy, premenopausal women completed the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. Venous blood samples were taken at the mid-cycle phase of the menstrual cycle to determine plasma androgen levels. Total and free testosterone, 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone were assessed. Path analyses were aimed at finding out which of the five circulating hormones might best predict a latent aggression construct derived from the four subscales of the Aggression Questionnaire. A significant correlation was found between free testosterone and physical and verbal aggression subscales. In addition, the results demonstrate for the first time in women a significant link between 5a-dihydrotestosterone and anger. Thus, both testosterone and 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone may affect, by separate pathways, the basal regulation of aggression-proneness in women.