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Alcohol & Alcoholism Vol. 38, No. 6, pp. 589-596, 2003
© 2003 Medical Council on Alcohol

OESTRADIOL AND HUMAN MALE ALCOHOL-RELATED AGGRESSION

C. J. Peter Eriksson1,*, Bettina von der Pahlen1,2, Taisto Sarkola1 and Kaija Seppä3

1 Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, 2 Department of Psychology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku and 3 Medical School, University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland

(Received 28 March 2003; first review notified 20 May 2003; in revised form 10 July 2003; accepted 20 July 2003)

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed at: National Public Health Institute, Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, PO Box 33, FIN-00251 Helsinki, Finland. Tel.: +358 9 4744 8114; Fax: +358 9 4744 8133; E-mail: peter.eriksson{at}ktl.fi

Aims: In comparison to androgens, almost nothing is known about the role of endogenous oestrogens in human aggressive behaviour. This new aspect was studied in the present investigation involving men with a history of alcohol-related aggression (AGG+) and in an age-matched male control population (AGG-). Methods: Male AGG+ volunteers were recruited through advertisements and the controls were drawn from the Finnish Population Register. Alcohol misuse and interpersonal partner violence were estimated by questionnaires. Endogenous hormone levels were measured from morning plasma samples. Results: A positive association emerged between plasma oestradiol and emotional negotiation during interpersonal conflict situations. Furthermore, a negative association was observed between oestradiol and testosterone-related physical, violent, aggression in the AGG+ men. In addition, oestradiol, rather than testosterone, was positively associated with psychological aggression in both groups of men. Conclusion: It is suggested that endogenous female sex hormones may be related to empathic behaviour and could, thus, represent a counter-balancing factor in alcohol-related male aggressive behaviour. Altogether, oestrogen may represent a multifactor ingredient in the complex interactions of partner conflicts.


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