Puberty that arrives earlier or later can trigger antisocial behavior in adolescent boys

According to researchers, whose findings have key implications for parents with aggressive boys, puberty that arrives earlier or later in adolescent boys relative to their peers can trigger chemicals that are related to antisocial behavior.

The research team looked at how the timing of puberty affects cortisol, a stress hormone, and salivary alpha amylase, an enzyme in saliva used as indicator of stress. Their findings appear in the May issue of Psychoneuroendocrinology.

The researchers found that lower levels of the alpha amylase in boys who experienced earlier maturity and higher levels of cortisol in boys who experienced later maturity are related to antisocial behavior. They found no similar correlation in girls.