Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry (생물정신의학)

The Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry (대한생물정신의학회)
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The Correlation between $2^{nd}$ to $4^{th}$ Digit Length Ratio and Characteristics of Temperament and Character in University Students

제2수지-제4수지 길이 비율과 기질 및 성격 특성간의 상관관계

  • Jeon, Sang Won (Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Medicine & Institute of Mental Health, Hanyang University) ;
  • Kim, Seok Hyeon (Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Medicine & Institute of Mental Health, Hanyang University) ;
  • Oh, Dong Hoon (Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Medicine & Institute of Mental Health, Hanyang University) ;
  • Lee, Yu Sang (Yong-In Mental Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Sun Hye (Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Medicine & Institute of Mental Health, Hanyang University)
  • 전상원 (한양대학교 의과대학 신경정신과학교실 및 정신건강연구소) ;
  • 김석현 (한양대학교 의과대학 신경정신과학교실 및 정신건강연구소) ;
  • 오동훈 (한양대학교 의과대학 신경정신과학교실 및 정신건강연구소) ;
  • 이유상 (용인정신병원) ;
  • 이선혜 (한양대학교 의과대학 신경정신과학교실 및 정신건강연구소)
  • Received : 2010.06.24
  • Accepted : 2010.08.01
  • Published : 2010.08.31
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Abstract

Objectives : The $2^{nd}$ to $4^{th}$ digit length(2D : 4D) ratio reflects the amount of exposure and sensitivity to the prenatal sex hormone and it is considered to be the most convenient and useful way to understand the influence of sex hormone in the determination of human behavioral traits. This study was carried out to find the correlation between the 2D : 4D ratio and characteristics of temperament and character in Korean university students. We assumed that 2D : 4D ratio would show a strong correlation with temperament which is defined to be an inclination of an automatical emotional response to a stimulus. Methods : Participants were 104 university students who completed 2 self-report measures : Temperament and Character Inventory(TCI), Temperament Test. We examined the 2D : 4D ratio of each subject by measuring the lengths of the $2^{nd}$ and $4^{th}$ fingers using a photocopy measurement. We performed statistical analyses using correlation test and t-test to examine the relationship between 2D : 4D ratio and psychological characteristics. Results : We found out the typical sex difference in 2D : 4D ratio. Women had significantly higher 2D : 4D ratio than men. TCI-Character factor(TCI-C) didn't show any significant correlation with the 2D : 4D ratio. TCI-Tempterament factor(TCI-T) and the item of Temperament Test showed a significant correlation with the 2D : 4D ratio. In correlation analysis of the total group including all women and men, the 2D : 4D ratio showed a significant positive correlation in a subscale(shyness with stranger) of harm avoidance scales in TCI-T. In correlation analysis of women's group, the 2D : 4D ratio showed a significant positive correlation in two subscales( fear of uncertainty) and[shyness to stranger] of harm avoidance scales in TCI-T. In correlation analysis of men's group, the 2D : 4D ratio showed a significant negative correlation with a sanguine temperament item of the Temperament Test. Conclusion : The results suggest that the amount of exposure to sex hormone in the prenatal period seems to have an impact on the determination of temperament and characteristics.

Keywords

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