Relation of Psychologic Measures of Aggression and Hostility to Testosterone Production in Man

Abstract

Plasma testosterone level and testosterone production rate were determined in a group of 18 healthy young men, 15 healthy older men and 6 hospitalized dysphoric male patients. A battery of anxiety, depression and hostility tests were administered simultaneously. Production rate of testosterone was found to be highly correlated with a measure of aggression derived from the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory in the younger men. Age, on the other hand, was the principal correlant of production rate in the older group. A multivariate regression equation was obtained between testosterone production rate and four psychologic measures of aggression and hostility which accounted for 82% of the variance in the production rate of testosterone for the younger group. This equation was not valid for the older men.