Socioeconomic stressors and their impact on testosterone regulation in adult Jordanian males

Socioeconomic status (SES) may influence male reproductive function through hormonal pathways. This study investigated the relationship between socioeconomic factors and circulating testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels in adult Jordanian males. In this cross-sectional study, 84 adult Jordanian men completed a structured socioeconomic questionnaire covering demographic, educational, occupational, and financial variables. Venous blood We collected samples after overnight fasting and analyzed for serum testosterone and FSH levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Testosterone levels were significantly negatively associated with age (r = -0.219, p = 0.045) and significantly positively associated with total family income (r = 0.233, p = 0.033) and financial stress (r = 0.271, p = 0.013). No significant associations were observed between testosterone and the other socioeconomic variables examined. In contrast, FSH levels were not significantly associated with any socioeconomic variable (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that selected socioeconomic factors are associated with testosterone levels in adult Jordanian men, whereas FSH appears less sensitive to these socioeconomic stressors. Further studies with larger samples are needed to confirm these findings and clarify the underlying mechanisms.