Sex-Role Orientation in Men Is Related to Salivary Testosterone Levels

Smith, Miriam J. Law; Deady, Denis K.; Sharp, Martin A.; Al-Dujaili, Emad A. S.

Abstract

Previous research has implicated the involvement of androgens in sex-role orientation in males, from studies of 2 nd to 4 th digit ratio (a purported marker of prenatal testosterone). The present pilot study investigates the relationship between salivary testosterone levels and sex-role orientation using Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) scores in adult males. Twenty-one males (aged 18 -24) completed the BSRI and provided saliva samples for assay. BSRI Femininity scores were significantly negatively correlated with testosterone levels; the higher the Femininity scores, the lower the testos-terone levels. There was no relation of BSRI Masculinity scores with testosterone levels. Our preliminary results add to the research suggesting that sex-role orientation in males may be partially related to underlying hormone levels.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 21, 2013
• Publication Date: 2013-11
• Deposit Date: Jan 22, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 22, 2024
• Journal: Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science
• Print ISSN: 2160-5866
• Electronic ISSN: 2160-5874
• Publisher: Scientific Research Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 518-521
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4236/jbbs.2013.37054
• Keywords: Testosterone; Androgens; Sex-Role; Masculinity; Femininity; Gender; Personality
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/3489664