Given the paucity of studies focusing on testosterone (T) and adolescent sexuality, and their conflicting findings, we aimed to empirically address two competing conceptualizations of the link between T and sexual behavior in adolescence: (1) the T as sexual motivator and (2) the T as competition-sensitive sexual motivator models. The study used data from a longitudinal study of 252 male Croatian adolescents who provided a saliva sample at the final data collection wave (at the age of 18). Applying multivariate statistical procedures, we tested links between salivary T levels and a range of partnered and non-partnered sexual behaviors—partly in retrospect. Only one significant association emerged—a robust link between T at the age of 18 and the number of lifetime sexual partners. Considering the evidence that multiple sexual partners can enhance male adolescents’ social status, our findings support the T as competition-sensitive sexual motivator model. Although this study could not distinguish between direct and indirect influences of T on adolescents’ sexuality, it confirmed the value of biopsychosocial approach to adolescent sexuality.

中文翻译：

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男性青少年的性行为和睾丸激素的作用

鉴于针对睾丸激素（T）和青春期性行为的研究很少，并且他们的研究结果相互矛盾，我们旨在实证研究T与青春期性行为之间联系的两种相互竞争的概念化：（1）T是性动机。 ）作为竞争敏感的性动机模型。该研究使用了来自252名克罗地亚男性青少年的纵向研究数据，他们在最终数据收集浪潮（18岁）时提供了唾液样本。应用多元统计程序，我们测试了唾液T水平与一系列伴侣和非伴侣性行为之间的联系-部分是回顾性的。仅出现了一个重要的关联-18岁的T与终生性伴侣之间的牢固联系。考虑到有多个性伴侣可以提高男性青少年的社会地位的证据，我们的研究结果支持T作为竞争敏感的性动机模型。尽管这项研究无法区分T对青少年性行为的直接和间接影响，但它证实了生物心理社会学方法对青少年性行为的价值。