Hormones and Behavior in Adolescents- Now you will know why!

Hormones and Behavior in Adolescents is one of the most spoken topics, because of the changes in the levels of these chemicals.

Ever wondered as to why you were sad this moment and elated in the next? Why you didn’t feel interested in something you once loved? Let’s know why!

Before getting into the topic being discussed let’s see what the word ‘hormone’ means. Hormones are organic chemical messengers which are secreted into the blood stream. There are around 50 hormones acting on various but specific cells; they impact behavior, hunger, blood pressure and sexual desire.

Hormones are not only important for the reproduction but are vital for metabolism. The levels of hormones vary across age groups and hence can influence behavior accordingly. These chemicals influence the nervous system to regulate behaviors. You might be familiar with the idea that sex-hormone density increases at the onset of puberty and decreases at the age of around 50, this change in concentration also affects behavior. Different hormones influence different types of behavior.

Most of us are familiar with the different endocrine glands and the hormones they secrete, like the thyroid gland when stimulated by the pituitary (in the brain) produces T4 or thyroxine and T3 or triiodothyronine which help regulate basal metabolism or insulin secreted by the pancreas, estrogen and progesterone produced by female gonads, testosterone produced by the male gonads and many more.

These hormones are not only responsible for the functioning of organs but are also responsible for the change in behavior if the concentrations change.Most of us are familiar with the different endocrine glands and the hormones they secrete, like the thyroid gland when stimulated by the pituitary (in the brain) produces T4 or thyroxine and T3 or triiodothyronine which help regulate basal metabolism or insulin secreted by the pancreas, estrogen and progesterone produced by female gonads, testosterone produced by the male gonads and many more. Thus, have impact on hormones and behavior in adolescents.

These hormones are not only responsible for the functioning of organs but are also responsible for the change in behavior if the concentrations change.

Adolescence and Behavior

Adolescence a period of change in one’s life, is an important life stage, with changes in behavior and physiology. An age where people emerge with volatile emotions, heightened interests, boundary-testing behaviors as they are becoming independent personalities. Well, these behaviors are observed with drastic lifestyle changes, addictions, substance abuses and depression.

So, what actually happened here? Why huge differences between stages? All of a sudden? And what might have caused such behaviors? The answer lies in our very physiology, hormones! The change in the levels of these messengers has a huge impact on behaviors and interests. Hence impact on hormones and behavior in adolescents.

These young minds are easily driven and influenced, they are daring to take up any challenge which come their way. Both sexes show different alterations in behaviors. Let’s see how hormones and behavior in adolescents act like they do!

Hormones and Behavior in Adolescents

The lifestyle issues are seen in sexes but the effects are different in each case. When males are prone to addictions and substance abuse females are more likely to be depressed and lose sleep. In males, an increase in the levels of testosterone results in the development of secondary sexual characters (testosterone is also present in females but in less quantity). This hormone influences behavior with an increase in aggressiveness, anxiety, self-esteem and confidence. No wonder they are up for any risk taking.

In females on the other hand, increase in the levels of estrogen and progesterone  help in development of female secondary sexual characters and an imbalance in these levels results in uneasiness, anxiety, frustration or even depression in some cases. Therefore an impact on hormones and behavior in adolescents is mainly concerned with lifestyle.

Post-partum depression or PMS are widely known, these can be observed in females with low levels of the female sexual hormones, since they bring about low levels of serotonin.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter which is a key hormone helping in maintaining mood, happiness and feelings of well-being. It also helps in other functions of the body such as sleeping, eating and digestion. Low levels of serotonin,dopamine and nor epinephrine are seen in people suffering from depression.

Dopamine is a feel-good neurotransmitter which lacks in people with negative behavioral issues, same goes with norepinephrine which acts as a stress reliever. Imbalance in thyroxine hormone produces by the thyroid gland on the signal received by the pituitary can aid in lack of attention, a study from 1993 suggests.

In adolescents, there in a boost in another hormone named oxytocin. This hormone can influence social behaviors such as affiliative, parental and aggressiveness. Widely known as the “love hormone”, it mainly helps in parturition and lactation, even though it’s present in both the sexes. An increase in height is also observed in adolescents (especially male), which is a result of increase in the growth hormone secreted by the pituitary. This hormone also influences behavior, an increase in its levels improves alertness, tendency to worry, activity levels, irritability and extroversion, hence aids in building good relationships with fewer conflicts.

Melatonin also called the sleep hormone also has effects on behavior. It is responsible of the maintenance of body clock and sleep cycle, variations may lead to imbalances of other hormones and results in major behavioral changes. Decrease or increase in levels of melatonin is seen in people with depression and hence they sleep either too less or too much.

Cortisol is another hormone which plays a vital role in behavior, increase in levels of cortisol is seen during stressful situations, and imbalance in the levels of this hormone, secreted during such situations may result in anxiety or depression.

Hormones and behavior in adolescents is hence a major topic to be spoken about.

Other Reasons

Even though these hormones have such effects on behavior, their function remains constant, no hormone can compensate or make changes in behavior like the other. Imbalance or sudden changes in the levels of hormones causes secondary effects with drastic changes in behavior.

So, imagine a sudden raise in levels of different hormones at once, that’s what happens during puberty. There are high chances of hormonal imbalances at the onset of puberty and hence take some time for the hormones to stabilize and behaviors are changed likewise. This is one of the reasons as to why adolescents behave the way they do. Other reasons may be the environment, social factors, cultural factors, economic differences and many more. This age group is one of the most misunderstood in my opinion.

There are reasons for them to behave in the ways they do but the reasons are overshadowed by expectations, society and reality. They are easily influenced by their peers and environment, so why can’t we educate them as to what is right and what is wrong before they indulge themselves in such activities. The one thing that matters here is transparency, transparency in every manner, they have to be taught, enlightened about matters which many of us don’t talk about, let us leave it to them, let them judge for themselves as to what is right for them and what is not.

They like to take risks, they want to be independent and all we can do is let them learn from mistakes, because there is no better teacher than experience.

Hope you like reading about Hormones and Behavior in adolescents.

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References

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK97279/
• https://pediatrics.aappubliations.org/content/109/2/e35#:~:text=In%20both%20populations%2C%20growth%20hormone,personal%20relationships%20with%20fewer%20conflicts.
• https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/causes#diagnosis
• https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-69728-9_6
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0091305782900399
• https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-22/edition-1/testosterone-and-male-behaviours
• https://www.brunet.caadolescents/behavioral-problems-in-adolescents
• https://academic.oup.com/icb/article/49/4/423/642602
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/hormones