title: Handedness and age of death: new evidence on a puzzling relationship.
abstract: Based on 5743 deaths in the United States and Canada, the present study was undertaken to verify and extend results suggesting that left handers have a shorter life expectancy than right handers. Unlike previous studies, which have merely dichotomized handedness, this study used a 5-point scale to measure handedness (extremely right handed, generally right handed, ambidextrous, generally left handed and extremely left handed). We found a significant tendency for one of the five handedness categories-those classified as generally left handers-to die at a significantly younger age than was true for the other four handedness groups. Our findings add to the controversy over links between handedness and age of death by suggesting that only a portion of left handers are at risk of premature death.
authors: Minot State University, Minot, USA.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Ellis
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Engh