Abstract
Influences of prenatal androgen exposure on human sex-typical behavior have been established largely through studies of individuals
with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). However, evidence that addresses the potential confounding influence of parental
socialization is limited. Parental socialization and its relationship to sex-typical toy play and spatial ability were investigated
in two samples involving 137 individuals with CAH and 107 healthy controls. Females with CAH showed more boy-typical toy play
and better targeting performance than control females, but did not differ in mental rotations performance. Males with CAH
showed worse mental rotations performance than control males, but did not differ in sex-typical toy play or targeting. Reported
parental encouragement of girl-typical toy play correlated with girl-typical toy play in all four groups. Moreover, parents
reported encouraging less girl-typical, and more boy-typical, toy play in females with CAH than in control females and this
reported encouragement partially mediated the relationship between CAH status and sex-typical toy play. Other evidence suggests
that the reported parental encouragement of sex-atypical toy play in girls with CAH may be a response to the girls’ preferences
for boys’ toys. Nevertheless, this encouragement could further increase boy-typical behavior in girls with CAH. In contrast
to the results for toy play, we found no differential parental socialization for spatial activities and little evidence linking
parental socialization to spatial ability. Overall, evidence suggests that prenatal androgen exposure and parental socialization
both contribute to sex-typical toy play.
with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). However, evidence that addresses the potential confounding influence of parental
socialization is limited. Parental socialization and its relationship to sex-typical toy play and spatial ability were investigated
in two samples involving 137 individuals with CAH and 107 healthy controls. Females with CAH showed more boy-typical toy play
and better targeting performance than control females, but did not differ in mental rotations performance. Males with CAH
showed worse mental rotations performance than control males, but did not differ in sex-typical toy play or targeting. Reported
parental encouragement of girl-typical toy play correlated with girl-typical toy play in all four groups. Moreover, parents
reported encouraging less girl-typical, and more boy-typical, toy play in females with CAH than in control females and this
reported encouragement partially mediated the relationship between CAH status and sex-typical toy play. Other evidence suggests
that the reported parental encouragement of sex-atypical toy play in girls with CAH may be a response to the girls’ preferences
for boys’ toys. Nevertheless, this encouragement could further increase boy-typical behavior in girls with CAH. In contrast
to the results for toy play, we found no differential parental socialization for spatial activities and little evidence linking
parental socialization to spatial ability. Overall, evidence suggests that prenatal androgen exposure and parental socialization
both contribute to sex-typical toy play.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10508-012-9997-4
- Authors
- Wang I. Wong, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3RQ UK
- Vickie Pasterski, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3RQ UK
- Peter C. Hindmarsh, Department of Genes, Development, and Disease, University College London, London, UK
- Mitchell E. Geffner, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Melissa Hines, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3RQ UK
- Journal Archives of Sexual Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-2800
- Print ISSN 0004-0002