Endendijk Joyce J, Hallers-Haalboom Elizabeth T, Groeneveld Marleen G, van Berkel Sheila R, van der Pol Lotte D, Bakermans-Kranenburg Marian J, Mesman Judi
Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, The Netherlands.
Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, The Netherlands.
Horm Behav. 2016 Apr;80:68-75. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2016.01.016. Epub 2016 Feb 2.
Previous studies on the relation between testosterone (T) levels and parenting have found ample evidence for the challenge hypothesis, demonstrating that high T levels inhibit parental involvement and that becoming a parent is related to a decrease in T levels in both mothers and fathers. However, less is known about the relation between T levels and more qualitative aspects of parenting. In the current study we examined basal T levels and diurnal variability in T levels in relation to mothers' and fathers' parenting quality. Participants included 217 fathers and 124 mothers with two children (3 and 5years of age). Evening and morning salivary T samples were analyzed with radio-immunoassays to determine circulating T levels. Parental sensitivity (i.e., child-centered responsiveness) and respect for children's autonomy were observed during free play in the family home. The results showed that higher evening T levels in mothers were associated with more sensitivity to the oldest and youngest child. Diurnal T variability was more consistently associated with parenting behavior towards their children than basal T levels. For fathers, more diurnal variability in T was associated with more sensitivity and more respect for autonomy with their youngest children. For mothers, more diurnal variability in T was associated with less sensitivity to both children and less respect for the youngest child's autonomy. These findings suggest that the T system might act differently in relation to parenting behavior in males and females.
先前关于睾酮（T）水平与养育子女之间关系的研究已经为挑战假说找到了充分的证据，表明高T水平会抑制父母的参与度，并且为人父母与父母双方T水平的下降有关。然而，关于T水平与养育子女更具质性方面的关系，我们了解得较少。在本研究中，我们考察了基础T水平以及T水平的昼夜变化与父母养育质量之间的关系。参与者包括217名父亲和124名母亲，他们都有两个孩子（3岁和5岁）。通过放射免疫分析法分析了晚上和早上的唾液T样本，以确定循环T水平。在家庭自由玩耍期间观察父母的敏感性（即以孩子为中心的反应能力）和对孩子自主性的尊重。结果表明，母亲晚上较高的T水平与对最大和最小孩子更高的敏感性有关。与基础T水平相比，T的昼夜变化与对孩子的养育行为的关联更为一致。对于父亲来说，T更多的昼夜变化与对最小孩子更高的敏感性和对其自主性更多的尊重有关。对于母亲来说，T更多的昼夜变化与对两个孩子较低的敏感性以及对最小孩子自主性较少的尊重有关。这些发现表明，T系统在男性和女性与养育行为的关系中可能有不同的作用。
