Modeling to explore and challenge inherent assumptions when cultural norms have changed: a case study on left-handedness and life expectancy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In 1991, Halpern and Coren claimed that left-handed people die nine years younger than right-handed people. Most subsequent studies did not find support for the difference in age of death or its magnitude, primarily because of the realization that there have been historical changes in reported rates of left-handedness.

Methods

We created a model that allowed us to determine whether the historical change in left-handedness explains the original finding of a nine-year difference in life expectancy. We calculated all deaths in the United States by birth year, gender, and handedness for 1989 (the Halpern and Coren study was based on data from that year) and contrasted those findings with the modeled age of death by reported and counterfactual estimated handedness for

SUBMITTER: Ferres JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10369838 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature