Original scientific paper
Is sports choice and participation related to 2D:4D? A study among adult male students in Wrocław, Poland
Slawomir Koziel
; Polish Academy of Sciences, Anthropology Unit in Wroclaw, Poland
Marek Kociuba
; General Tadeusz Kosciuszko Military Academy of Land Forces, Wrocław, Poland
Zofia Ignasiak
; Faculty of Physical Education, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
Raja Chakraborty
; Department of Anthropology, Dinabandhu Mahavidyalaya, Bongaon, West Bengal, India
Abstract
Psychology and personality of individuals may have implications for choice of, and performance in sports disciplines. Individual- and group sports differ in psychological requirements, such as, competitiveness, sensation seeking and risk taking attitude, often required in sports. There is sex difference in human in these qualities, which also show association with prenatal testosterone exposures. Second-to-fourth digit lengths ratio (2D:4D) is an indicator of prenatal testosterone exposure. Lower 2D:4D indicates higher prenatal testosteron exposure and vice versa. Males generally have lower 2D:4D than females. This study cross-sectional study investigated the relationship of 2D:4D with team based- or individual sports. The participants were 421 Polish male students with a mean (+SD) age of 19.78 (+0.79) years. Among them, 139 were engaged in sports and 282 were not. Mean 2D:4D in each hand of individual sporting group was significantly lower than the team sports- and no sports groups. Participants not involved in any sports had the highest mean 2D:4D value. However, the team sportsmen’s 2D:4D did not differ from the non sporting group. Prenatal testosterone exposure might have implication in sports choice and participation.
Keywords
sports; preference; 2D:4D; digit ratio; testosterone; male; Poland
Hrčak ID:
166686
URI
Publication date:
28.6.2016.
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