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2D:4D biomarker reliability and validity in a within-subject pregnancy-childhood-adolescence cohort

Background - A lot of studies use the second-to-fourth digit length ratio (2D:4D) as a biomarker for intrauterine androgen load to predict behavioral and mental health problems. Thus, knowledge of 2D:4D's metric properties, namely reliability and validity, is essential. - Method - 2D:4D handsca...

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Main Authors: Eichler, Anna (Author) , Kaufmann, Franziska (Author) , Titzmann, Adriana (Author) , Fasching, Peter A. (Author) , Beckmann, Matthias W. (Author) , Gerlach, Jennifer (Author) , Kratz, Oliver (Author) , Moll, Gunther H. (Author) , Buchholz, Verena N. (Author) , Kornhuber, Johannes (Author) , Lenz, Bernd (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: June 2023
In: Early human development
Year: 2023, Volume: 181, Pages: 1-8
ISSN:1872-6232
DOI:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2023.105776
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2023.105776
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378378223000725
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Author Notes:Anna Eichler, Franziska Kaufmann, Adriana Titzmann, Peter A. Fasching, Matthias W. Beckmann, Jennifer Gerlach, Oliver Kratz, Gunther H. Moll, Verena N. Buchholz, Johannes Kornhuber, Bernd Lenz, the IMAC-Mind Consortium
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Summary:Background - A lot of studies use the second-to-fourth digit length ratio (2D:4D) as a biomarker for intrauterine androgen load to predict behavioral and mental health problems. Thus, knowledge of 2D:4D's metric properties, namely reliability and validity, is essential. - Method - 2D:4D handscans were available from 149 adolescents (M = 13.32 years, SD = 0.35) and their mothers. For 88 adolescents, there were also primary-school age handscans (M = 7.87 years, SD = 0.68). Prenatal risks for the 1st to 3rd trimesters were recorded during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy (alcohol exposition: meconium biomarker and maternal self-report; nicotine exposition: maternal self-report; maternal depressive symptoms and subjective stress: questionnaires). - Results - The 2D:4D ratio was highly stable from childhood to early adolescence. However, both developmental and sex effects were present: The 2D:4D ratio increased with age and was higher in adolescent girls vs. boys. Significant 2D:4D mother-child associations were found for girls. Significant main effects could be found for the prenatal risk factors alcohol (self-report) and nicotine consumption. - Conclusion - In line with earlier studies, the 2D:4D biomarker proved to be an inter-individually stable measure with an intra-individual increase from childhood to early adolescence. Sex differences in adolescence and associations with maternal prenatal health behaviour underline the validity of the biomarker. Findings on heritability emphasize the importance of interpreting 2D:4D results in a sex-specific manner.
Item Description:Online verfügbar: 14. April 2023, Artikelversion: 19. April 2023
Gesehen am 18.07.2024
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1872-6232
DOI:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2023.105776

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