Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38956189›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2024

The association between 2D:4D digit ratio and sex-typed play in children with and without siblings.

Luisa Ernsten, Lisa M Körner, Martin Heil, Nora K Schaal

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07525726 (The Relationship Between Digit Ratio and Motor Development and Sensory Processing in Infants), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT07525726 recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

The Relationship Between Digit Ratio and Motor Development and Sensory Processing in Infants

TypeobservationalSponsorNigde Omer Halisdemir UniversityRan2026 to 2027Enrolled80ConditionsInfant Developmental AssessmentArmsDigit Ratio, Motor development, Sensory processing functions
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Luisa ErnstenFaculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany. Luisa.Ernsten@hhu.de.
Lisa M KörnerFaculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Martin HeilFaculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Nora K SchaalFaculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The 2D:4D digit ratio is commonly used as a surrogate possibly reflecting prenatal testosterone levels. Indirect evidence comes from studies investigating the association between 2D:4D and human characteristics that likely relate to prenatal testosterone. In children, sex-typed play reveals large sex differences early in development and an influence of prenatal testosterone is likely. Findings on the association between 2D:4D and children's sex-typed play are heterogeneous and other influences on the development of sex-typed play have been suggested, most of all social influences like siblings, their sex and birth order. The current study examined the association between right and left 2D:4D, a proposed surrogate for prenatal testosterone exposure, which was assessed in right and left hands of N = 505 6-month-old children, and sex-typed play behavior, which was evaluated 3.5 years later using the Pre-School Activities Inventory (PSAI), and the influence of siblings. To capture differential effects of siblings' sex and birth order, dummy-coded variables were used reflecting having no siblings as well as older or younger sisters or brothers. Multiple regression models were used to investigate the association between PSAI scores and sex, right and left 2D:4D, being a singleton as well as having an older or younger sister or brother. It was shown that sex and having an older brother were significant predictors for sex-typed play. Effects were further disentangled by conducting separate regression analyses in boys and girls. In boys, a significant association between PSAI scores and having an older brother was revealed, in girls, no significant associations were found. Results are discussed highlighting the non-significant association between 2D:4D and children's sex-typed play, which weakens the applicability of 2D:4D as a surrogate reflecting influences of prenatal T. Further, the importance of social factors like siblings on children's sex-typed play is discussed.

Indexed as

FingersPlay and PlaythingsSiblingsChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansInfantMalePregnancyPrenatal Exposure Delayed EffectsSex CharacteristicsTestosteroneTestosterone

Identifiers

PMID38956189
PMCPMC11219774

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.