The association between 2D:4D digit ratio and sex-typed play in children with and without siblings.

Autor: Ernsten L; Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany. Luisa.Ernsten@hhu.de., Körner LM; Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.; Department of General Pediatrics, Neonatology and Pediatric Cardiology, University Children's Hospital, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany., Heil M; Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany., Schaal NK; Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Scientific reports [Sci Rep] 2024 Jul 02; Vol. 14 (1), pp. 15231. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jul 02.
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65739-1
Abstrakt: The 2D:4D digit ratio is commonly used as a surrogate possibly reflecting prenatal testosterone levels. Indirect evidence comes from studies investigating the association between 2D:4D and human characteristics that likely relate to prenatal testosterone. In children, sex-typed play reveals large sex differences early in development and an influence of prenatal testosterone is likely. Findings on the association between 2D:4D and children's sex-typed play are heterogeneous and other influences on the development of sex-typed play have been suggested, most of all social influences like siblings, their sex and birth order. The current study examined the association between right and left 2D:4D, a proposed surrogate for prenatal testosterone exposure, which was assessed in right and left hands of N = 505 6-month-old children, and sex-typed play behavior, which was evaluated 3.5 years later using the Pre-School Activities Inventory (PSAI), and the influence of siblings. To capture differential effects of siblings' sex and birth order, dummy-coded variables were used reflecting having no siblings as well as older or younger sisters or brothers. Multiple regression models were used to investigate the association between PSAI scores and sex, right and left 2D:4D, being a singleton as well as having an older or younger sister or brother. It was shown that sex and having an older brother were significant predictors for sex-typed play. Effects were further disentangled by conducting separate regression analyses in boys and girls. In boys, a significant association between PSAI scores and having an older brother was revealed, in girls, no significant associations were found. Results are discussed highlighting the non-significant association between 2D:4D and children's sex-typed play, which weakens the applicability of 2D:4D as a surrogate reflecting influences of prenatal T. Further, the importance of social factors like siblings on children's sex-typed play is discussed.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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