title: Handedness and health: an examination of the association between different handedness classifications and health disorders.
abstract: The current study investigated the incidence of various health disorders in a sample population of undergraduate students, using a 25-item hand preference questionnaire. Analysis revealed significant differences existed in the incidence of several health disorders as a function of handedness: however, these differences depended on how hand preference was defined. Overall, the results showed that non-right-handed participants (i.e., those individuals with left-handed, ambidextrous, or inconsistent hand preferences) were significantly more likely to report specific health disorders (such as high blood pressure and epilepsy) than right-handed participants. The findings provide support for the argument that left-handedness, or non-right-handedness, is associated with various health disorders. The results are discussed in light of the Geschwind-Behan-Galaburda model of cerebral lateralisation.
authors.affiliation: Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. pbryden@wlu.ca
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Bryden
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bruyn
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fletcher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors