Character traits of personality in adolescents with endocrinopathies

The paper presents the results of a study of character traits of personality in teenage girls with endocrine disorders (Cushing's disease (CD): n=21; constitutional exogenous obesity (CEO): n=28; polycystic ovary syndrome (POS): n=15; congenital adrenal dysfunction (CAD): n=16). The control group consisted of healthy peers, n=110. The average age of participants was 16 ± 2 years. The results showed that in adolescents with chronic endocrine diseases, changes in accentuated traits are observed compared with normative developing peers. Significant difference are reported in the following scales: pedantic and anxious accentuations are significantly more frequent than in the control group; sticking and emotive types are significantly less frequent. Analysis of the results of subgroups with specific endocrine diseases showed that the personality traits of girls with CD and POS are similar. They are diligent and punctual, with pessimistic view on their future. Girls with CEO show significantly more mood changes, being kind and open. For girls with CAD, thoroughness, thoughtfulness of behavior and leadership seeking are typical. Knowledge of these characteristics can allow psychological correction tools to help teenagers to cope with ineffective emotional reactions and disadaptation.

1. Baumann U., Perre M. Klinicheskaya psihologiya. SPb., 2003.
2. Berkovic L. Agressiya: prichiny, posledstviya i kontrol'. SPb., 2001.
3. Dedov I.I., Peterkova V.A. Rukovodstvo po detskoi endokrinologii M., 2006.
4. Zhukov D.A. Biologiya povedeniya. Gumoral'nye mehanizmy.SPb., 2007.
5. Leongard K. Akcentuirovannye lichnosti. Rostov N/D, 2000.
6. Lichko A.E. Podrostkovaya psihiatriya (Rukovodstvo dlya vrachei). L., 1985.
7. Nikiforov G.S. Psihologiya zdorov'ya: Uchebnik dlya vuzov / Pod red. G S. Nikiforova. SPb., 2006.
8. Nikolaeva V.V. Vliyanie hronicheskoi bolezni na psihiku. M., 1987.
9. Kaltiala-Heino R. et al. Early puberty is associated with mental health problems in middle adolescence // Soc. Sci. Med. 2003. № 57.
10. Kalynn M. Schulza, Heather A. Molenda-Figueirab, et al. Back to the future: The organizational–activational hypothesis adapted to puberty and adolescence // Hormones and Behavior. May 2009. V. 55. № 5.
11. Michaud P.A. et al. Gender-related psychological and behavioural correlates of pubertal timing in a national sample of Swiss adolescents // Mol. Cell Endocrinol. 2006. № 254.
12. Sisk C.L., Zehr J.L. Pubertal hormones organize the adolescent brain and behavior // Front. Neuroendocrinol. 2005. № 26.