Parental rejection and antisocial behavior: the moderating role of testosterone
| Pages | 302-313 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-04-2018-0016 |
| Date | 05 November 2018 |
| Published date | 05 November 2018 |
| Author | Matthias Woeckener,Danielle L. Boisvert,Eric M. Cooke,Nicholas Kavish,Richard H. Lewis,Jessica Wells,Todd A. Armstrong,Eric J. Connolly,James M. Harper |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Criminal psychology,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Deviant behaviour,Public policy & environmental management,Policing,Criminal justice |
Parental rejection and antisocial behavior:
the moderating role of testosterone
Matthias Woeckener, Danielle L. Boisvert, Eric M. Cooke, Nicholas Kavish, Richard H. Lewis,
Jessica Wells, Todd A. Armstrong, Eric J. Connolly and James M. Harper
Abstract
Purpose –Research reports a positive relationship between parental rejection and antisocial behavior in
adolescents and young adults. Studies also report a positive association between testosteroneand antisocial
behavior. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether testosterone moderates the influence of parental
rejection on antisocial behavior in a sample of young adults.
Design/methodology/approach –The current study analyzed a sample of undergraduate students
(N ¼322) to examine the interaction between testosterone and parental rejection in the prediction of
antisocial behavior. Multivariate ordinary least squares (OLS) regression was used to explore this association.
Findings –Results from OLS regression models revealed that parental rejection and testosterone were
independently associated with antisocial behavior and that the effect of parental rejection on antisocial
behavior was stronger at higher levels of testosterone.
Originality/value –This current study is the first to examine how testosterone conditions the influence of
parental rejection on antisocial behavior in young adults. Findings from the study add to the growingbody of
literature examining the interplay between biological and environmental factors.
Keywords Aggression,Antisocial behaviour, Crime, Biosocial criminology, Parentalrejection, Testosterone
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
From the moment we are born, parents play a pivotal role in our lives. Parents are responsible for
ensuring that we have enough food, clothing, stimulation and a variety of other resources essential to
our development. While there are many clear and tangible resources children need in order to develop
into healthy human beings, one important factor for healthy social development is a loving and caring
parent. Research shows that children with parents who provide support, guidance and comfort are
more likely to develop prosocial behaviors later in life (Kenny et al., 1998; Raja et al., 1992). In contrast,
children who perceive their parents as rejecting them, and thus failing to provide support, guidance,
and comfort, are more likely to report engaging in higher levels of antisocial behavior (Ali and Zubair,
2011; Allen et al., 2007; Dekovic
´, 1999; Jackson and Foshee, 1998; Koiv, 2012; Leiber et al., 2009;
Marcus and Betzer, 1996; Park et al., 2016; Ryder, 2007; Wang et al., 2012). Antisocial behaviors
can include violence and/or aggression, or may be a risk factor for aggression.
While the association between parental rejection and antisocial behavior is documented, there
is reason to anticipate that our understanding of the role of parental rejection in the etiology of
antisocial behavior may be further enhanced by considering the moderating role of biological
characteristics. For instance, testosterone has been shown to be a correlate of antisocial
behavior in both male s and females (Harris et al., 1996; R aine, 2002; Rowe et al., 2004; Yildirim
and Derksen, 2012). Higher levels of testosterone are related to lower relationship quality
between responde nts and their peers, in timate partners , and parents; these a ssociations are
particularly robust for males (Booth et al., 2005, 2006; Booth and Osgood, 1993; Updegraff
et al., 2006). Contemporary research suggests that testosterone is negatively associated with
parent-child rela tionship qualit y (Booth et al., 2006), marital quality (Booth et al., 2005), and
Received 1 April 2018
Revised 27 June 2018
Accepted 17 July 2018
Matthias Woeckener,
Danielle L. Boisvert and
Eric M. Cooke are all based
at the Department of Criminal
Justice and Criminology,
Sam Houston State University,
Huntsville, Texas, USA.
Nicholas Kavish is based at the
Department of Psychology and
Philosophy, Sam Houston
State University, Huntsville,
Texas, USA.
Richard H. Lewis is based at
the Department of Criminal
Justice at the University of
Arkansas at Little Rock,
Little Rock, AR, USA.
Jessica Wells is based at the
Department of Criminal Justice,
Boise State University, Boise,
Idaho, USA.
Todd A. Armstrong is based at
the College of Public Affairs and
Community Service, University
of Nebraska at Omaha,
Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
Eric J. Connolly is based at the
Department of Criminal Justice
and Criminology, Sam Houston
State University, Huntsville,
Texas, USA.
James M. Harper is Associate
Professor at the Department of
Biological Sciences, Sam
Houston State University,
Huntsville, Texas, USA.
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JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY
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VOL. 8 NO. 4 2018, pp. 302-313, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2009-3829 DOI 10.1108/JCP-04-2018-0016
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