Citation

Von der Pahlen B, Sarkola T, Seppä K, Eriksson CJ. J. Stud. Alcohol 2002; 63(5): 518-526.

Affiliation

Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12380846

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The present investigation was designed to study steroid hormones, alcohol and aggression interactions in men with a history of alcohol-related aggression (AGG+) and in a cross-sectional control population (AGG-). METHOD: AGG+ (n = 40) and AGG- (n = 44) male volunteers completed the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire and the revised Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), after which plasma-free and total testosterone, 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and cortisol were determined. RESULTS: The AGG+ men displayed significantly (p < .05) higher aggression and MAST measures compared with the AGG- men; however, no significant group differences were observed regarding the hormone values. Independently of the steroid hormones, MAST correlated positively with the hostility subscale in both AGG- and AGG+ groups. Free and total testosterone correlated positively with anger and DHT correlated positively with verbal aggression and anger, whereas cortisol correlated negatively with physical aggression and anger in the AGG- group. No significant correlations between steroid hormones and aggression parameters were observed in the AGG+ group. The age factor explained part of the MAST and steroid hormone correlations with aggression. A hormone and MAST independent moderation effect of age upon aggression was also found. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates an association between alcohol drinking and self-reported sober-state aggression, which implies that the etiology of alcohol misuse and aggressive behavior may involve common biological and/or social factors. These mechanisms, as well as age, androgens and cortisol, all represent factors that, in combination, regulate human aggression.

Language: en