@article{ref1,
title="Testosterone/cortisol ratio in response to acute stress: A possible marker of risk for marital violence",
journal="Social neuroscience",
year="2013",
author="Romero-Martínez, Ángel and González-Bono, E. and Lila, M. and Moya-Albiol, L.",
volume="8",
number="3",
pages="240-247",
abstract="Testosterone to cortisol (T/C) ratios could be associated with feelings and expression of anger as high testosterone and low cortisol levels indicate a predisposition to violence. The basal T/C ratio has recently been proposed as a marker for proneness to social aggression; so far, however, only its value as an indicator of state anger or violence has been investigated. Given this, we aimed to establish whether the T/C ratio response to acute stress was a specific psychobiological feature in individuals with a history of violence, namely, perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV). T/C ratio and anger responses were compared in men jailed for IPV and controls using the Trier Social Stress Test. IPV perpetrators had higher T/C ratios than controls, during the preparation period, and 15 and 30 minutes post-task. In IPV perpetrators, high T/C ratios were linked to better self-esteem and good mental health. An increase in anger may increase proneness to violence by altering hormones and, thereby, increasing T/C ratios. The basal T/C ratio together with acute stress responses and other indicators could serve as a marker to identify men at high risk of reacting violently to their partners.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1747-0919",
doi="10.1080/17470919.2013.772072",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17470919.2013.772072"
}