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Adrenarche and the emotional and behavioral problems of late childhood

journal contribution
posted on 2015-12-01, 00:00 authored by Lisa K Mundy, Helena RomaniukHelena Romaniuk, Louise Canterford, Stephen Hearps, Russell M Viner, Jordana K Bayer, Julian G Simmons, John B Carlin, Nicholas B Allen, George C Patton
PURPOSE: Mental and behavioral disorders increase in prevalence with the passage through puberty. Yet the first symptoms for many children emerge between seven and 11 years, before the pubertal rise in gonadal hormones. A possibility that symptom onset may be linked to the adrenarchal rise in androgens has been little explored. METHODS: The Childhood to Adolescence Transition Study recruited a stratified random sample of 1,239 eight-nine year olds from primary schools in Melbourne, Australia. Saliva samples were assayed for dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S), and testosterone. Emotional and behavioral problems were assessed through parental report on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. RESULTS: In males, high levels of all androgens were associated with greater total difficulties and peer problems. Higher dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone were associated with emotional symptoms and DHEA-S with conduct problems. In females, DHEA-S was associated with peer problems. CONCLUSIONS: In late childhood, androgens are associated with emotional and behavioral problems in males, raising a possibility that the adrenarchal transition plays a contributing role. If so, the late primary school years may prove to be an important phase for preventing the onset of mental health and behavioral problems in boys.

History

Journal

Journal of adolescent health

Volume

57

Issue

6

Pagination

608 - 616

Publisher

Elsevier

Location

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

eISSN

1879-1972

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2015, Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine