Digit ratio (2D:4D), testosterone, cortisol, aggression, personality and hand-grip strength: Evidence for prenatal effects on strength

Ribeiro, Evaldo, Neave, Nick, Morais, Rosana, Kilduff, Liam, Taylor, Suzan, Butovskaya, Marina, Fink, Bernhard and Manning, John (2016) Digit ratio (2D:4D), testosterone, cortisol, aggression, personality and hand-grip strength: Evidence for prenatal effects on strength. Early Human Development, 100. pp. 21-25. ISSN 0378-3782

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Abstract

Background - Digit ratio (2D:4D) is a putative marker for prenatal testosterone and is correlated with performance in many sports. Low 2D:4D has been linked to strength but the evidence is mixed and strength is also influenced by mass, testosterone, and behavioural factors. It has been hypothesised that the 2D:4D-strength correlation may be strongest in challenge conditions when short-term changes occur in steroid hormones.

Results - In the challenge condition there was a highly significant increase in HGS, and modest changes in T, physical aggression and emotional stability. HGS correlated negatively with left hand 2D:4D. In a multiple regression, left hand 2D:4D was negatively related to HGS and emotional stability was positively related to HGS. In the control condition HGS was not correlated with 2D:4D. In a multiple regression, BMI, physical aggression, and emotional stability were significantly related to HGS.

Conclusions - 2D:4D is a negative correlate of strength in challenge situations. This finding may in part explain associations between 2D:4D and sports performance.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Digit ratio; Testosterone; Aggression; Hand-grip strength
Subjects:	C800 Psychology
Department:	Faculties > Health and Life Sciences > Psychology
Depositing User:	Becky Skoyles
Date Deposited:	12 Jul 2016 11:03
Last Modified:	12 Oct 2019 17:28
URI:	http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/27255

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