Digit ratio (2D:4D) and sex-role orientation: Further evidence and meta-analysis

• Published in: Personality and individual differences Vol. 51; no. 4; pp. 417 - 422
• Main Authors: Voracek, Martin, Pietschnig, Jakob, Nader, Ingo W., Stieger, Stefan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-09-2011
• Subjects: Antenatal; Difference scores; Digit ratio (2D:4D); Femininity; Heterosexuals; Masculinity; Masculinity-Femininity; Meta-analysis; Prenatal testosterone; Sex differences; Sex roles; Testosterone; Women; Masculinity; Prenatal testosterone; Femininity; Digit ratio (2D:4D); Sex differences; Sex roles; Meta-analysis
• ISSN: 0191-8869; 1873-3549
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2010.06.009

Three new studies (
N
=
132, 623, 1112) did not yield hypothesized associations between digit ratio (2D:4D), an assumed negative correlate of prenatal testosterone, and psychometrically measured sex-role orientation (positive association with femininity, negative ones with masculinity and masculinity-femininity difference scores) among heterosexuals of either sex. Meta-analysis of the pertinent literature (
N
=
6311, 28 studies from 10 countries, 46% unpublished) showed only men’s (but not women’s) left-hand (but not right-hand) 2D:4D reliably related as expected (positively) to femininity. This effect was tiny (0.14% attributable variance) and possibly non-robust (crucially dependent on one large study included). Hence, the cumulative evidence does not support systematic, robust, noteworthy within-sex correlations between 2D:4D and the masculinity/femininity personality dimensions.