Depression, neuroticism and 2D:4D ratio: evidence from a large, representative sample.

ABSTRACT: A body of literature reports higher rates of depression and neuroticism in female samples compared to male samples. Numerous studies have investigated the role of prenatal sex hormone exposure in this sex difference, using the ratio between the second and fourth digit of the hand ("2D:4D") as a putative marker. However, the sample sizes of those studies were mostly small and results remained inconclusive. The aim of the present study is to test the suggested associations between depression, neuroticism and the 2D:4D ratio in a large, representative sample of over 3,000 German individuals. It was hypothesized that a higher 2D:4D (supposedly representing a more "feminine" prenatal hormone exposure) would positively predict (1) one's history of depression as well as (2) neuroticism rates and

SUBMITTER: Lautenbacher LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7341800 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature