Sex Hormone/Cortisol Ratios Differentially Modulate Risk-Taking in Men and Women

The present study aimed to extend the original focus of the dual-hormone hypothesis on testosterone and cortisol involvement in risk-taking to other sex hormones: estrogen and progesterone. The study also examined two alternative models for the proposed relationship between cortisol and sex steroids...

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Published inEvolutionary psychology Vol. 15; no. 1; p. 1474704917697333
Main Authors Barel, Efrat, Shahrabani, Shosh, Tzischinsky, Orna
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.01.2017
Sage Publications Ltd
SAGE Publishing
Subjects
Adult
Female
Gender differences
Gonadal Steroid Hormones - blood
Hormones
Humans
Hydrocortisone - blood
Male
Original
Risk-Taking
Sex Characteristics
Sex Factors
Women
cortisol
risk-taking
sex hormones
DHH
sex differences
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Summary:The present study aimed to extend the original focus of the dual-hormone hypothesis on testosterone and cortisol involvement in risk-taking to other sex hormones: estrogen and progesterone. The study also examined two alternative models for the proposed relationship between cortisol and sex steroids and for their joint influence on risk-taking: interaction and ratio terms. In all, 40 women and 37 men were tested for circulating sex hormones and provided self-reports on risk-taking. The findings suggest that sex hormone–cortisol ratios differentially modulate risk-taking in men and women: In men, high ratios were associated with risk-taking, whereas in women the opposite pattern was found. The findings are discussed in light of evolutionary assumptions regarding sex differences in neuroendocrine mechanisms, suggesting sex differences in neural sensitivity to sex hormones in risk-taking.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
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ISSN:1474-7049
1474-7049
DOI:10.1177/1474704917697333