Eichler A, Heinrich H, Moll G, Beckmann M, Goecke TW, Fasching P, Muschler MR, Bouna-Pyrrou P, Lenz B, Kornhuber J (2018)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2018
Book Volume: 119
Pages Range: 1-7
DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2018.02.012
The second-to-forth digit length ratio (2D:4D) is considered to be a biomarker for intrauterine androgen levels. It is associated with adult and child mental health problems, primarily with behavioral symptoms and predominantly in males. Using a cross-sectional design, we examined whether 2D:4D was associated with conduct disorder (CD) symptoms in 138 primary-school aged children (54% boys, Mage = 7.70 years) and considered child sex as a moderating factor. Children's digit lengths were measured from hand scans and mothers rated the behavioral/emotional symptoms of their child. The regression analyses revealed that 2D:4D ratios were associated with behavioral symptoms in boys (β = -0.260, p = 0.026), but not in girls (β = -0.040, p = 0.762). Child emotional symptoms, analyzed as a control, were not significantly correlated with 2D:4D. In conclusion, prenatal brain hyperandrogenization - operationalized by the 2D:4D biomarker - could result in behavioral symptoms in boys at early school age, reflecting one predictor for early onset CD. Our data support the use of 2D:4D as a marker of prenatal androgen exposure.
APA:
Eichler, A., Heinrich, H., Moll, G., Beckmann, M., Goecke, T.W., Fasching, P.,... Kornhuber, J. (2018). Digit ratio (2D:4D) and behavioral symptoms in primary-school aged boys. Early Human Development, 119, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2018.02.012
MLA:
Eichler, Anna, et al. "Digit ratio (2D:4D) and behavioral symptoms in primary-school aged boys." Early Human Development 119 (2018): 1-7.
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