Male Adolescents' Sexual Behavior and the Role of Testosterone

TY - JOUR

T1 - Male Adolescents' Sexual Behavior and the Role of Testosterone

AU - Štulhofer, Aleksandar

AU - Koletić, Goran

AU - Landripet, Ivan

AU - Hald, Gert Martin

AU - Knežević Ćuća, Jadranka

PY - 2019/12/1

Y1 - 2019/12/1

N2 - Objectives: Given the paucity of studies focusing on testosterone (T) and adolescent sexuality, and their conflicting findings, we aimed to empirically address two competing conceptualizations of the link between T and sexual behavior in adolescence: (1) the T as sexual motivator and (2) the T as competition-sensitive sexual motivator models. Methods: The study used data from a longitudinal study of 252 male Croatian adolescents who provided a saliva sample at the final data collection wave (at the age of 18). Applying multivariate statistical procedures, we tested links between salivary T levels and a range of partnered and non-partnered sexual behaviors—partly in retrospect. Results: Only one significant association emerged—a robust link between T at the age of 18 and the number of lifetime sexual partners. Considering the evidence that multiple sexual partners can enhance male adolescents’ social status, our findings support the T as competition-sensitive sexual motivator model. Conclusions: Although this study could not distinguish between direct and indirect influences of T on adolescents’ sexuality, it confirmed the value of biopsychosocial approach to adolescent sexuality.

AB - Objectives: Given the paucity of studies focusing on testosterone (T) and adolescent sexuality, and their conflicting findings, we aimed to empirically address two competing conceptualizations of the link between T and sexual behavior in adolescence: (1) the T as sexual motivator and (2) the T as competition-sensitive sexual motivator models. Methods: The study used data from a longitudinal study of 252 male Croatian adolescents who provided a saliva sample at the final data collection wave (at the age of 18). Applying multivariate statistical procedures, we tested links between salivary T levels and a range of partnered and non-partnered sexual behaviors—partly in retrospect. Results: Only one significant association emerged—a robust link between T at the age of 18 and the number of lifetime sexual partners. Considering the evidence that multiple sexual partners can enhance male adolescents’ social status, our findings support the T as competition-sensitive sexual motivator model. Conclusions: Although this study could not distinguish between direct and indirect influences of T on adolescents’ sexuality, it confirmed the value of biopsychosocial approach to adolescent sexuality.

KW - Male adolescents

KW - Testosterone

KW - Sexual behavior

KW - Social competition

U2 - 10.1007/s40750-019-00123-2

DO - 10.1007/s40750-019-00123-2

M3 - Journal article

SN - 2198-7335

VL - 5

SP - 382

EP - 395

JO - Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology

JF - Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology

ER -