Is a maturational lag associated with left-handedness? A research note.
One element of Coren and Halpern's controversial theory [Psychological Bulletin, 109, 90-106 (1991)] that left-handedness is associated with shorter lifespans is the hypothesis that sinistrality is accompanied by a developmental lag. Perinatal traumas could interfere with the normal developmental shift to right-sided lateral preferences during childhood, leading to an association between maturational lag and left-handedness. In a test of this hypothesis, we assessed current stature, predicted adult stature and relative stature, an index of physical maturity, for elementary school-aged children in three separate, large-sample studies. No relations between hand preference and the three measures of physical status were found. Repeated failures to confirm the hypothesis with pre-adolescent samples raise serious doubt about the viability of the left-handed developmental lag hypothesis.
Eaton
W O
WO
Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. Warren_Eaton@Umanitoba.CA
Chipperfield
J G
JG
Ritchot
K F
KF
Kostiuk
J H
JH
D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors