Sex role identity related to the ratio of second to fourth digit length in women

There is now good evidence that human sex-typed behavior is influenced by sex hormones that are present during prenatal development, confirming studies in other mammalian species. Most of the evidence comes from clinical populations, in which prenatal hormone exposure is atypical for a person's sex, but there is increasing evidence from the normal population for the importance of prenatal hormones. In this paper, we briefly review the evidence, focusing attention on the methods used to study behavioral effects of prenatal hormones. We discuss the promises and pitfalls of various types of studies, including those using clinical populations (concentrating on those most commonly studied, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, androgen insensitivity syndrome, ablatio penis, and cloacal exstrophy), direct measures of hormones in the general population (assayed through umbilical cord blood, amniotic fluid, and maternal serum during pregnancy), and indirect measures of hormones in the general population (inferred from intrauterine position and biomarkers such as otoacoustic emissions, finger length ratios, and dermatoglyphic asymmetries). We conclude with suggestions for interpreting and conducting studies of the behavioral effects of prenatal hormones. q

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“…One study is consistent with this: the 2D:4D ratio was lower in women who had more 'masculine' scores on a sex role questionnaire [253].…”

Section: Sex Rolesupporting

confidence: 56%

Prenatal sex hormone effects on child and adult sex-typed behavior: methods and findings

Cohen-Bendahan

Beek

Berenbaum

2005

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

485

400

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“…The 2D:4D ratio has been studied in the context of reproductive success (Manning et al, 2000), sex-typed behavior (Csathó et al, 2003a), spatial/cognitive abilities (Csathó et al, 2003b;Kempel et al, 2005;Manning, 2002; but see Coolican & Peters, 2003), adult personality characteristics (Austin, Manning, McInroy, & Matthews, 2002;Bailey & Hurd, 2005a;Fink, Manning, & Neave, 2004), and more recently in the context of psychopathology (Arato, Frecska, Beck, An, & Kiss, 2004;Bailey & Hurd, 2005b;Klump et al, 2006;Manning, BaronCohen, Wheelwright, & Sanders, 2001;McFadden, Westhafer, Pasanen, Carlson, & Tucker, 2005;Walder, Andersson, McMillan, Breedlove, & Walker, 2006). Generally, digit ratios show positive correlations with female-typical behaviors and negative correlations with male-typical behaviors (for review, see Putz, Gaulin, Sporter, & McBurney, 2004), and this pattern of results appears to generalize to sex-linked psychopathology.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The association between anxiety scores and normative sex-linked behaviors was also examined because others have speculated that sex-linked disorders may represent an extreme expression of normative gender roles (Skodol, 2000), a general description of behaviors that also appear sensitive to levels of prenatal androgens (Berenbaum & Hines, 1992;Hampson, Rovet, & Altmann, 1998;Leveroni & Berenbaum, 1998;Meyer-Bahlburg et al, 2004;Servin, Nordenström, Larsson, & Bohlin, 2003;Udry, 2000;Udry, Morris, & Kovenock, 1995) and that have been correlated with 2D: 4D (Csathó et al, 2003a(Csathó et al, , 2003bKempel et al, 2005;Manning, 2002;Peters, Manning, & Reimers, 2007). It was hypothesized that anxiety scores would differ between individuals with more masculine and more feminine digit ratios and that anxiety scores would be associated with other measures of sex-linked behavior.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anxiety, Sex-Linked Behaviors, and Digit Ratios (2D:4D)

Evardone

Alexander

2007

Arch Sex Behav

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The second to fourth (2D:4D) digit ratio, a sexually dimorphic, phenotypic characteristic putatively associated with perinatal androgen action, has been used to evaluate the hypothesized relation between prenatal hormonal factors and a variety of sexually dimorphic behaviors, including sexlinked psychopathology. Smaller digit ratios, suggestive of stronger perinatal androgen action, have been associated with male-linked disorders (e.g., autism), and larger digit ratios, suggestive of weaker perinatal androgen action, have been associated with female-linked disorders (e.g., depression and eating disorders). To evaluate the possible relation between digit ratio and another traditionally female-linked disorder, anxiety, 2D:4D ratios were measured in a non-clinical sample (58 men, 52 women). Participants also completed a battery of anxiety and gender role measures and performed two spatial/cognitive tasks typically showing a male advantage (mental rotation and targeting) and two tasks typically showing a female advantage (location memory and spatial working memory). Men with a more feminine pattern of sex-linked traits and behaviors (including digit ratios) reported greater anxiety. In contrast, greater anxiety in women was associated with both female-typical and male-typical traits and behaviors, and no significant association between digit ratio and anxiety was found. This pattern of results suggests that the development of anxiety is multiply determined, with contributing factors varying by sex.

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“…30 In particular, the posterior most Hox-d and Hox-a genes are strongly expressed in the urino-genital system including the gonads; however, these genes are also required for the growth and differentiation of digits and toes. 20 This common control of the differentiation of digits and gonads has allowed aspects of gonadal functions such as the production of testosterone and estrogen to affect the development of the digits.…”

Section: -23mentioning

confidence: 99%

Second Digit Length, Fourth Digit Length and Second to Fourth Digit Ratio (2D:4D): Relevance in the Choice of Female Footballer Athletes and Female Non-Footballer Athletes in Nigeria

Sunday¹,

Chimbuoyim²,

Jervas³

et al. 2017

Anthropol Open J

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Several studies have shown the importance of anthropometric measurements as a veritable tool in forensic science, crime detection, as well as a means of studying variations in human populations. The present study focused on using digit lengths and ratio to determine sports skills. A total of 270 female subjects comprising of sports and non-sports participants were measured. Seventy of which were non-footballer athletes, 100 were footballer athletes, and 100 were nonsports participants. The second and fourth digits of their right and left hands were measured using a digital vernier caliper. The data obtained from the participants were analyzed by SPSS. Subjects who participated in football also possessed athletic skills, hence both have similar traits. This study has shown that athletic and football skills are similar, as the values obtained from the above parameters were not significant at p<0.05. The results showed that digit ratio is not a good tool for determining sport skills, as compared to digit lengths (2D and 4D). No difference was observed between the digit ratio of the sports participants and those of non-sports participants. Digit lengths (2D and 4D) were found to be significant determinants of sports, with sports groups showing significantly shorter digits. Therefore, the findings of this study suggest an association between digit lengths and sporting abilities.KEY WORDS: Football; Female footballer athletes; Female non-footballer athletes; Second to fourth digit ratio and Nigeria.

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Sex role identity related to the ratio of second to fourth digit length in women

Cited by 113 publications

References 38 publications

Prenatal sex hormone effects on child and adult sex-typed behavior: methods and findings

Prenatal sex hormone effects on child and adult sex-typed behavior: methods and findings

Anxiety, Sex-Linked Behaviors, and Digit Ratios (2D:4D)

Second Digit Length, Fourth Digit Length and Second to Fourth Digit Ratio (2D:4D): Relevance in the Choice of Female Footballer Athletes and Female Non-Footballer Athletes in Nigeria

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