The idea of at age four children have an outbreak of testosterone It is used many times to explain difficult behaviors at this age. But how did this idea come about? Is there any truth? If not, what could explain this behavior?
The psychologist and author Stephen Biddulph is often credited with the idea that at four years old children have an outbreak of testosterone. Although it is true that he mentions it in his book Educate Children, he actually talked about the work of another author:
According to Dr. Mitchell Harman of the US Department of Aging, boys experience an outbreak of testosterone at age four ... But not all researchers agree with their findings, so it remains a moot idea.
Biddulph said that Dr. Harman had written on the subject for an article in the Esquire men's magazine in 1999 and that he "continued to defend these findings" when asked in 2015.
In Babies and more The phimosis operation: when it is recommended and what it consists ofWhat does science say?
As a teenager researcher and endocrinologist specializing in puberty hormones, I can say that there is no proof that such an outbreak of testosterone exists. Many studies on hormones in boys published in refereed journals confirm this.
An increase in testosterone levels is not possible when the testicles (where testosterone is produced) are small and the levels of the hormone that stimulates testosterone production are low.
The only time when a four-year-old's testosterone levels are high is because of a rare disease called precocious puberty that causes a child to start puberty too early and his testicles grow much more than normal.
It is true that an increase in testosterone occurs, but not at this age
There are several increases in testosterone levels during a child's development that coincide with brain development, but never at four.
The first increase in testosterone in boys with levels similar to those of puberty occurs during the first two trimesters of pregnancy and this testosterone is responsible for the development of the penis and scrotum, a process known as the masculinization of the genitals external
The second increase in testosterone occurs approximately during the first six months of life. This mini puberty makes children's genitals look more pronounced for a short period of time, something that many parents realize.
Puberty is the phase in which the third and final increase in testosterone occurs, multiplying by 10 or even 20 in a period of two to three years. Puberty is a period in which great physical growth occurs accompanied by significant behavioral changes that are clearly influenced by brain development.
Yes there are hormonal changes, but not in testosterone levels
There are hormonal changes that begin at approximately five or six years in both sexes in a period known as adrenarche, something that may also have contributed to the confusion.
In Babies and more A warning: do not let pediatricians or nurses lower the skin of the penis to the baby to cure his phimosisAdrenarche is the maturation of part of the adrenal glands where hormones similar to testosterone are produced, although much weaker, the most common effect being body odor. However, scientists do not know exactly why boys and girls have this phase and no one has been able to differentiate any clear effect on child behavior.
No, there are no testosterone outbreaks
The use of the word "outbreak" to describe the production of testosterone is also incorrect.
At no time in life does an outbreak of testosterone occur. The word "outbreak" is associated with speed and urgency, something that has nothing to do with what happens during childhood, since when testosterone increases during puberty it grows gradually at the beginning and its production does not accelerate until well into the puberty or at the end of it.
What else can explain this type of behavior?
Is there an alternative explanation for the behavior at this age of the children the parents are talking about?
We see differences in the brains of boys and girls and their behavior long before puberty. The increase in testosterone in the womb and during the mini-puberty that occurs during the first six months of life is probably the explanation.
Studies that examine behavior in children between four and five years of age tend to focus on social interactions or games, since it is what children spend most of their time at that age.
These studies show us that boys and girls at this age often play and communicate differently. Children's games tend to be more physical and incorporate mobile toys or building structures, while girls generally play more interactively and are more expressive.
Interestingly, girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, exposed to high levels of testosterone in the womb, tend to have more "hard and physical" playing styles as a result of the effect of testosterone on early brain development.
Why does a behavior change occur in children between four and five years old?
At this age children learn to interact with others, to understand the needs of another person, to share and deal with new and strange situations.
Hence, children have to learn to regulate their own emotions such as fear, worries, disgust and anger.
If they don't, we can see emotional outbursts that can sometimes be explosive. Children may have trouble understanding or explaining why they have lost control of their emotions and children may respond in a more physical way and be less able to explain what has happened.
Learning to regulate their emotions is an important skill for children's development and parents can influence positive emotional control by ensuring that their children maintain daily routines, have enough time to play and get enough sleep. It is also helpful to recognize when they behave well and not overreact to small cases of rebellion for attention.
We should not blame hormones for children's behavior. What needs to be done is try to better understand these behaviors.For example, when a child constantly misbehaves and his behavior is worrisome, he may be indicating some type of anxiety in reaction to family stress or be the result of problems that go back to when they were younger. If you are worried about your child's behavior, seek professional help.
It is important to prioritize playtime in the case of all children, something that may include respecting their space and giving them permission to make noise and be scandalous.
Author: Kate Steinbeck, endocrinologist and doctor in adolescent medicine. Chair of Adolescent Medicine, University of Sydney.
This article has originally been published in The Conversation. You can read the original article here.
Translated by Silvestre Urbón.
