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ERIC Number: EJ843670
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Jul
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9630
EISSN: N/A
Conscientiousness as a Mediator of the Association between Masculinized Finger-Length Ratios and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Martel, Michelle M.
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, v50 n7 p790-798 Jul 2009
Background: One often-overlooked biological risk factor that may help explain sex-biased prevalence rates in psychopathology is sex hormones. Personality traits, which also show sex differences, may mediate relations between biological risk factors like hormones and childhood psychopathology such as ADHD (or, alternatively, be independent risk factors). Methods: Three hundred and twelve children/adolescents (178 boys, 134 girls) between the ages of 8 and 17 completed a comprehensive, multistage, clinical diagnostic procedure; 168 children were diagnosed with ADHD and 144 were classified as non-ADHD comparison controls. Primary caregivers completed the California Q-sort in order to provide a measure of conscientiousness. Finger-length ratios (specifically right 2D:4D) served as a proxy of prenatal testosterone exposure (relative to estrogen). Results: Lower levels of conscientiousness statistically mediated the relationship between more masculine right 2D:4D (i.e., increased prenatal testosterone exposure) and increased ADHD inattentive symptoms. Conclusion: More masculinized finger-length ratios show associations with ADHD symptoms, possibly acting through the trait mechanism of conscientiousness.
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: California Child Q Set
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A