Empathy, estradiol and androgen levels in 9-year-old children
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1
University of the Basque Country, Spain
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2
Spanish Council for Scientific Research, Spain
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3
University of Cadiz, Spain
Objective:To study gender differences in the ability to empathize and analyze its possible hormonal correlates.
Method:to this end, we selected a sample of 9 year old children (57 boys and 66 girls). Empathy was measure throughout Bryant empathy scale. Hormonal levels (testosterone, androstenedione and estradiol) were measured using a enzyme immunoassay technique in saliva samples.
Results:our results failed to show gender differences in empathy scores. In the case of hormones, gender differences were only found for androstenedione, with girls having higher levels than boys. The variance analysis showed the existence of interaction between the independent variables: sex and estradiol levels (divided into two levels: high and low). We didn’t found any relationships between androgens and empathy.
Conclusion: results show that relationships between estradiol levels and empathy are different for each sex. i.e. high estradiol levels are related to high empathy scores in girls, while in boys the relationships are inverse.
Conference:
41st European Brain and Behaviour Society Meeting, Rhodes Island, Greece, 13 Sep - 18 Sep, 2009.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Poster presentations
Citation:
Azurmendi
A,
Pascual
E,
Braza
F,
Munoz
JM and
Ramon-Sanchez-Martin
J
(2009). Empathy, estradiol and androgen levels in 9-year-old children.
Conference Abstract:
41st European Brain and Behaviour Society Meeting.
doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.08.2009.09.088
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Received:
08 Jun 2009;
Published Online:
08 Jun 2009.
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Correspondence:
Aitziber Azurmendi, University of the Basque Country, San Sebastian, Spain, aitziber.azurmendi@ehu.es