Testosterone/cortisol ratio in response to acute stress: A possible marker of risk for marital violence

Abstract

Testosterone to cortisol (T/C) ratios could be associated with feelings and expression of anger as high testosterone and low cortisol levels indicate a predisposition to violence. The basal T/C ratio has recently been proposed as a marker for proneness to social aggression; so far, however, only its value as an indicator of state anger or violence has been investigated. Given this, we aimed to establish whether the T/C ratio response to acute stress was a specific psychobiological feature in individuals with a history of violence, namely, perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV). T/C ratio and anger responses were compared in men jailed for IPV and controls using the Trier Social Stress Test. IPV perpetrators had higher T/C ratios than controls, during the preparation period, and 15 and 30 minutes post-task. In IPV perpetrators, high T/C ratios were linked to better self-esteem and good mental health. An increase in anger may increase proneness to violence by altering hormones and, thereby, increasing T/C ratios. The basal T/C ratio together with acute stress responses and other indicators could serve as a marker to identify men at high risk of reacting violently to their partners.

Keywords:

• Acute stress
• Intimate partner violence
• Mental health
• Self-esteem
• Testosterone/cortisol ratio

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality (2012/001), the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (PSI2011-25434), the Committee for Business, Research and Science of the Regional Government of Valencia (PROMETEO/2011/048) and the University of Valencia (UV-INV-AE11-40217).