Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry (생물정신의학)

The Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry (대한생물정신의학회)
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A Relationship between $2^{nd}$ to $4^{th}$ Digit Length Ratio and Aggression Related-Sports Entries Characteristics in Female Athletics of Korean National Teams

여자 국가대표 선수의 검지-약지 비와 공격성 연관 종목 특징의 관계

  • Shin, A Young (Catholic Research Institutes of Medical Science) ;
  • Lee, Yu Sang (Yong-In Mental Hospital) ;
  • Chae, Jeong Ho (Department of Psychiatry, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine)
  • Published : 2010.02.28
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Abstract

Objectives : The $2^{nd}$ to $4^{th}$ digit length ratio(2D : 4D) is a sexually dimorphic trait regardless of ethnicity and shows sex differences. According to previous research, men usually have a relatively shorter $2^{nd}$ digit than $4^{th}$ digit. There is tendency that men with lower 2D : 4D are perceived as being more masculine and tend to perform better in some physical sports. Furthermore, 2D : 4D is negatively associated with trait aggression. In this study, we examine gender difference of 2D : 4D and compare 2D:4D of female Korean national team members to 2D : 4D of control subjects. Besides that, we also compare 2D : 4D of female Korean national team members according to their sports entries. Methods : The sample of this study is 396 people, 67 female Korean national team member, 216 control women and 113 control men. We measured $2^{nd}$ to $4^{th}$ digit length of their right hand. In addition, we collected demographic information of female Korean national team members using a self-report questionnaire. Results : The mean 2D : 4D of female Korean national team members is 0.96(SD=0.04), smaller than control women's 2D : 4D(0.97, SD=0.03) and significantly higher than control men's 2D : 4D(0.95, SD=0.03). We also found differences between control men and women. Non-martial arts related sports athletes have significant difference with control men in 2D : 4D. However, martial arts related sports athletes' 2D : 4D is not significantly different from other groups, including control men. Conclusion : These results are consistent with the findings of previous research that there is a significant difference between men and women in their 2D : 4D. Furthermore, 2D : 4D of martial arts related sports athletes have not shown any difference from the 2D : 4D of control men that 2D : 4D of non-martial arts related athletes have shown. This fact is important in consideration of masculine characteristics. For further research, it is necessary to examine 2D : 4D difference according to sport ability and gender differences.

Keywords

References

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