☆ 4.4 Article

Prenatal androgen exposure and children's gender-typed behavior and toy and playmate preferences

HORMONES AND BEHAVIOR (2021)

Journal

HORMONES AND BEHAVIOR

Volume 127, Issue -, Pages -

Publisher

ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE

DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104889

Keywords

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia; Amniotic fluid testosterone; Prenatal testosterone exposure; Androgen; Sex differences; Gender-typed play behavior; Toy preferences; Playmate preferences

Funding

National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, United States Public Health Service National Institutes of Health [HD24542, MH073019, MH073842]
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Abstract

The results of the two studies suggest that congenital adrenal hyperplasia can influence gender-typed behavior and preferences in children, while amniotic fluid testosterone may not be a sensitive enough measure of early androgen exposure. A more reliable measure may be needed to consistently detect relationships to later gender-typed behavior in non-clinical populations.

We report findings from two studies investigating possible relations of prenatal androgen exposure to a broad measure of children's gender-typed behavior, as well as specifically to children's toy and playmate preferences. Study 1 investigated these outcomes for 43 girls and 38 boys, aged 4 to 11 years, with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH, a genetic condition causing increased adrenal androgen production beginning prenatally) compared to similarly-aged, unaffected relatives (41 girls, 31 boys). The predicted sex differences were found for all of the outcome measures. Furthermore, girls with CAH showed increased male-typical and decreased female typical behavior and toy and playmate preferences compared to unaffected girls. Study 2 investigated the relationship of amniotic fluid testosterone to gender-typed behavior and toy and playmate preferences in typically developing children (48 girls, 44 boys) aged 3 to 5 years. Although the predicted sex differences were found for all of the outcome measures, amniotic fluid testosterone was not a significant correlate, in the predicted direction, of any outcome measure for either sex. The results of study 1 provide additional support for an influence of prenatal androgen exposure on children's gender-typed behavior, including toy and playmate preferences. The results of study 2 do not, but amniotic fluid testosterone may be an insufficiently sensitive measure of early androgen exposure. A more sensitive and reliable measure of prenatal androgen exposure may be needed to consistently detect relations to later gender typed behavior in non-clinical populations.

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Androgens and child behavior: Color and toy preferences in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)

Sharon A. S. Neufeld, Marcia L. Collaer, Debra Spencer, Vickie Pasterski, Peter C. Hindmarsh, Ieuan A. Hughes, Carlo Acerini, Melissa Hines

Summary: Human males and females show average gender/sex differences for certain psychological phenomena, which may be influenced by sex chromosomes, exposure to gonadal hormones, and socialization or learning. This study investigated potential hormonal and socialization/learning influences on gender/sex differences in childhood preferences for color and toys. The results support learning theories of color preferences and may be influenced by early androgen exposure.

HORMONES AND BEHAVIOR (2023)