The relationship between Testosterone and Anxiety
Disciplines
Biological Psychology
Abstract (300 words maximum)
It is well-documented that hormone levels play an essential role in the regulation and expression of emotional responses. The role testosterone plays in anxiety is multifaceted and may cause both anxiety-producing and anxiolytic feelings (Domonkos et al., 2018). This study will look at the relationship between endogenous testosterone levels and anxiety in men and women. The participants are college students enrolled at a large southeastern university. Upon arrival to the testing room, each participant gave a saliva sample and completed a set of questionnaires including a demographics form and the Spielberger Trait and State (STAI) anxiety scale (Spielberger, 1989). Saliva samples will be assayed for testosterone levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Because of the integrated relationship between testosterone concentration, part of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, we hypothesize that testosterone will be related to both state and trait anxiety. Domonkos, E., Hodosy, J., Ostatnikova, D., & Celec, P. (2018). On the Role of Testosterone in Anxiety-Like Behavior Across Life in Experimental Rodents. Fronteirs in Endocrinology, 9, 441. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00441 Spielberger, C. D. (1989). State-Trait Anxiety Inventory: Bibliography (2nd ed.). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - Psychological Science
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Sharon Pearcey
Additional Faculty
Ebony Glover, Psychological Science, eglove12@kennesaw.edu
The relationship between Testosterone and Anxiety
It is well-documented that hormone levels play an essential role in the regulation and expression of emotional responses. The role testosterone plays in anxiety is multifaceted and may cause both anxiety-producing and anxiolytic feelings (Domonkos et al., 2018). This study will look at the relationship between endogenous testosterone levels and anxiety in men and women. The participants are college students enrolled at a large southeastern university. Upon arrival to the testing room, each participant gave a saliva sample and completed a set of questionnaires including a demographics form and the Spielberger Trait and State (STAI) anxiety scale (Spielberger, 1989). Saliva samples will be assayed for testosterone levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Because of the integrated relationship between testosterone concentration, part of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, we hypothesize that testosterone will be related to both state and trait anxiety. Domonkos, E., Hodosy, J., Ostatnikova, D., & Celec, P. (2018). On the Role of Testosterone in Anxiety-Like Behavior Across Life in Experimental Rodents. Fronteirs in Endocrinology, 9, 441. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00441 Spielberger, C. D. (1989). State-Trait Anxiety Inventory: Bibliography (2nd ed.). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.