Hormonal levels, hemispheric lateralization, and social adjustment during adolescence

Hormonal levels, hemispheric lateralization,
and social adjustment during adolescence

Nottelmann, Susman, et al. (1985) correlated levels of three types of hormones (gonadotropins, sex hormones [testosterone and estradiol], and adrenal androgens) with parental responses on a set of retrospective questionnaires regarding adolescent development and behavior. Findings were as follows:

1. Hormonal levels were associated with adolescent adjustment as reported on the questionnaires.

2. The correlation between hormone levels and adjustment was stronger for boys than for girls.

3. In a number of instances, the timing of changes in hormone levels was more likely to be associated with the adjustment of adolescents than with actual pubertal stage in which the adolescents were classified due to external physical characteristics.

Lohman (1989) reports that spatial abilities are related to increased hormonal level, which strengthen hemispheric lateralization. Left-hemisphere dominant individuals tend to do better in spatial tasks. Normal hormonal development during adolescence tends to lead to more specific left-hemisphere lateralization in males than in females.

Comparing and contrasting the above information, it may be inferred that the most well adjusted boys are probably those who have developed specific lateralization in the left hemisphere of the cerebral cortex, due to the relative greater proportions of androgen and estrogen in their bloodstreams and a later onset of adolescence. Because males as a group tend to mature later than females, and later maturation is associated with higher scores on spatial tests, well adjusted males would tend to be more spatially oriented than girls.

If this is true, it may be hypothesized that socially well adjusted boys will outperform socially maladjusted boys on specifically spatial tasks (i.e., certain sports or athletics). Boys who perform poorly on such tasks, whose hormonal secretions have not led to such strong hemispheric lateralization, and stereotyped "masculine" body development, would be a minority in their peer group. This smaller group, viewing themselves as inferior or "misfits", might then be socialized to act out to seek attention, or other secondary gains, in the end reinforcing their low self-esteem and perpetuating this cycle.

REFERENCES

Nottelmann, E.D., Susman, E.J., Inoff, G.E., Dorn, L.D., Cutler, G.B., Loriaux, D.L., & Chrousos, G.P. (1985). Hormone level and adjustment and behavior during early adolescence. Paper presented at the Annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Los Angeles, May.

Lohman, D.F. (1989). The Adolescent & Young Adult: Guided Correspondence Study (study guide), Iowa City: University of Iowa.

Thomas S. Rue, M.A., NCC
March 4, 1991

The University of Iowa - College of Education
Psychological and Quantitative Foundations 31:163
The Adolescent and Young Adult

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