Journal article 793 views
Parental income inequality and children’s digit ratio (2D:4D): a ‘Trivers-Willard’ effect on prenatal androgenization?
John Manning,
B. Fink,
Laura Mason 
,
R. Trivers
,
R. Trivers
Journal of Biosocial Science, Pages: 1 - 9
Swansea University Authors:
John Manning, Laura Mason
Full text not available from this repository: check for access using links below.
DOI (Published version): 10.1017/s0021932021000043
Abstract
Income inequality is associated positively with disease prevalence and mortality. Digit ratio (2D:4D) – a negative proxy for prenatal testosterone and a positive correlate of prenatal oestrogen – is related to several diseases. This study examined the association of income inequality (operationalize...
| Published in: | Journal of Biosocial Science |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0021-9320 1469-7599 |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
2021
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
|
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56227 |
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| Abstract: |
Income inequality is associated positively with disease prevalence and mortality. Digit ratio (2D:4D) – a negative proxy for prenatal testosterone and a positive correlate of prenatal oestrogen – is related to several diseases. This study examined the association of income inequality (operationalized as relative parental income) and children’s 2D:4D. Participants self-measured finger lengths (2D=index finger, and 4D=ring finger) in a large online survey conducted in July 2005 (the BBC Internet Study) and reported their parents’ income. Children of parents of above-average income had low 2D:4D (high prenatal testosterone, low prenatal oestrogen) while the children of parents of below-average income had high 2D:4D (low prenatal testosterone, high prenatal oestrogen). The effects were significant in the total sample, present among Whites (the largest group in the sample), in the two largest national samples (UK and USA) and were greater for males than females. The findings suggest a Trivers-Willard effect, such that high-income women may prenatally masculinize their sons at the expense of the fitness of their daughters. Women with low income may prenatally feminize their daughters at the fitness expense of their sons. The effect could, in part, explain associations between low income, high 2D:4D (low prenatal testosterone) and some major causes of mortality such as cardiovascular disease. |
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| Keywords: |
2D:4D; Income disparity; Trivers-Willard hypothesis |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Start Page: |
1 |
| End Page: |
9 |