Strength and competitiveness are more strongly predictive of retrospective sport participation than 2D:4D in university-aged women
Objective: Females continue to participate in sport at lower rates than males. Girls who participate in sport gain many advantages. Even with programs designed to emphasize participation, some females continue with sport participation while others do not. Given the advantages and controversies surro...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Canadian Science Publishing
2019-09-01
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| Series: | FACETS |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2019-0016 |
| _version_ | 1818298461125083136 |
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| author | Elizabeth T. Vandenborn Cayla N. Wood Krista J. Munroe-Chandler Kevin J. Milne |
| author_facet | Elizabeth T. Vandenborn Cayla N. Wood Krista J. Munroe-Chandler Kevin J. Milne |
| author_sort | Elizabeth T. Vandenborn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: Females continue to participate in sport at lower rates than males. Girls who participate in sport gain many advantages. Even with programs designed to emphasize participation, some females continue with sport participation while others do not. Given the advantages and controversies surrounding testosterone and female sport, it is possible that testosterone may predispose females toward sport participation. Our objective was to determine if the second to fourth digit (2D:4D) ratio, a proxy for prenatal androgen exposure, correlates with sport participation throughout female adolescence and young adulthood. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of indirect prenatal androgen exposure (i.e., 2D:4D) was completed on 18–30-year-old women (n = 92) using demographics, anthropometrics, sport-specific behaviour tendencies, and retrospective sport participation. Results: 2D:4D was not significantly correlated with total sport participation (TSP) (r = −0.065, p = 0.538). Secondary analyses revealed significant correlations between TSP and maximum hand grip (r = 0.406, p = 0.000) and the Sport Orientation Questionnaire (SOQcomp (r = 0.513475, p = 0.000), SOQgoal (r = 0.253, p = 0.015), SOQwin (r = 0.366, p = 0.000)). Conclusion: Although strength and competitiveness are strongly correlated with female sport participation, the impact of prenatal androgen exposure (i.e., 2D:4D) remains to be determined given its weak and negative association with female sport participation. Given that females participate in sport at lower rates than males, continuing to determine what factors influence sport participation is an important goal. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T04:35:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8b772fb8c41d487e9d3d3b421d693287 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2371-1671 2371-1671 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T04:35:41Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | Canadian Science Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | FACETS |
| spelling | doaj.art-8b772fb8c41d487e9d3d3b421d6932872022-12-21T23:59:26ZengCanadian Science PublishingFACETS2371-16712371-16712019-09-014145947110.1139/facets-2019-0016Strength and competitiveness are more strongly predictive of retrospective sport participation than 2D:4D in university-aged womenElizabeth T. Vandenborn0Cayla N. Wood1Krista J. Munroe-Chandler2Kevin J. Milne3Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, CanadaDepartment of Kinesiology, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, CanadaDepartment of Kinesiology, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, CanadaDepartment of Kinesiology, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, CanadaObjective: Females continue to participate in sport at lower rates than males. Girls who participate in sport gain many advantages. Even with programs designed to emphasize participation, some females continue with sport participation while others do not. Given the advantages and controversies surrounding testosterone and female sport, it is possible that testosterone may predispose females toward sport participation. Our objective was to determine if the second to fourth digit (2D:4D) ratio, a proxy for prenatal androgen exposure, correlates with sport participation throughout female adolescence and young adulthood. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of indirect prenatal androgen exposure (i.e., 2D:4D) was completed on 18–30-year-old women (n = 92) using demographics, anthropometrics, sport-specific behaviour tendencies, and retrospective sport participation. Results: 2D:4D was not significantly correlated with total sport participation (TSP) (r = −0.065, p = 0.538). Secondary analyses revealed significant correlations between TSP and maximum hand grip (r = 0.406, p = 0.000) and the Sport Orientation Questionnaire (SOQcomp (r = 0.513475, p = 0.000), SOQgoal (r = 0.253, p = 0.015), SOQwin (r = 0.366, p = 0.000)). Conclusion: Although strength and competitiveness are strongly correlated with female sport participation, the impact of prenatal androgen exposure (i.e., 2D:4D) remains to be determined given its weak and negative association with female sport participation. Given that females participate in sport at lower rates than males, continuing to determine what factors influence sport participation is an important goal.https://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2019-0016hormonesbehaviourstrengthandrogenshandgripcompetitiveness |
| spellingShingle | Elizabeth T. Vandenborn Cayla N. Wood Krista J. Munroe-Chandler Kevin J. Milne Strength and competitiveness are more strongly predictive of retrospective sport participation than 2D:4D in university-aged women FACETS hormones behaviour strength androgens handgrip competitiveness |
| title | Strength and competitiveness are more strongly predictive of retrospective sport participation than 2D:4D in university-aged women |
| title_full | Strength and competitiveness are more strongly predictive of retrospective sport participation than 2D:4D in university-aged women |
| title_fullStr | Strength and competitiveness are more strongly predictive of retrospective sport participation than 2D:4D in university-aged women |
| title_full_unstemmed | Strength and competitiveness are more strongly predictive of retrospective sport participation than 2D:4D in university-aged women |
| title_short | Strength and competitiveness are more strongly predictive of retrospective sport participation than 2D:4D in university-aged women |
| title_sort | strength and competitiveness are more strongly predictive of retrospective sport participation than 2d 4d in university aged women |
| topic | hormones behaviour strength androgens handgrip competitiveness |
| url | https://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2019-0016 |
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