Night owls likely to be problem children
The researchers found several factors were related to anti-social behaviors in the study group, particularly in the boys who tended to exhibit more rule-breaking behaviors than did their peers.
The findings are published in the Developmental Psychology journal. For girls, a preference for evening activities was associated with a higher incidence of relational aggression or aggressive behavior toward their peers.
Boys who experienced prolonged high levels of cortisol - smaller decreases in cortisol levels from the time of awakening until 4 pm - tended to have more behavior problems than did their peers, the report indicates. The association was not true for girls, however.
Normally, levels of cortisol, the stress hormone associated with circadian rhythms, peak in the morning upon awakening and plateau during the afternoon and evening hours.
Abnormalities in cortisol secretion have also been associated with clinical depression and anti-social behavior in earlier studies, the researchers note.
The researchers found several factors were related to anti-social behaviors in the study group, particularly in the boys who tended to exhibit more rule-breaking behaviors than did their peers.
The findings are published in the Developmental Psychology journal. For girls, a preference for evening activities was associated with a higher incidence of relational aggression or aggressive behavior toward their peers.
Boys who experienced prolonged high levels of cortisol - smaller decreases in cortisol levels from the time of awakening until 4 pm - tended to have more behavior problems than did their peers, the report indicates. The association was not true for girls, however.
Normally, levels of cortisol, the stress hormone associated with circadian rhythms, peak in the morning upon awakening and plateau during the afternoon and evening hours.
Abnormalities in cortisol secretion have also been associated with clinical depression and anti-social behavior in earlier studies, the researchers note.
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