title: Left-handedness and neurotic disturbances in adult urban population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Controversial results on the relationship between the left-handedness and neurotic disturbances have been obtained in so far investigations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the link between the left-handedness and neurotic disturbances in an adult urban population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was performed on 1,202 adult residents of the Stari Grad municipality in Belgrade, out of which 401 were males (33.4%) and 801 were females (66.6%). A questionnaire was used as an investigation instrument, with questions concerning age, gender, writing hand and neurotic disturbances: tension, agressiveness, anger, nervousness, weepiness and seclusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Left-handedness was found in 60 subjects (5%) and it was statistically more frequent in males (7.7%) compared to females (3.6%) (p = 0.003). A decreasing trend of proportion of left-handed males was found in relation to aging. In the age group 18 to 39 years, agressiveness, as a specific neurotic disturbance, was significantly more frequent in left-handed males in comparison to right-handers (p = 0.035). In the age group 40 to 59 years, neurotic disturbances were more common among left-handed males compared to right-handers (p = 0.030).There were no significant diferences in the proportion of neurotic disturbances between the left-handed and the right-handed females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From a public health point of view, left-handed men may be regarded as a relatively vulnerable population category concerning mental health.
authors: Institute of Hygiene and Medical Ecology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia. sanjavecko@yahoo.com
authors: Sanja
authors: S
authors: Milenković
authors: Health Center "Dr Simo Milosević", Belgrade, Serbia.
authors: Milica
authors: M
authors: Brkić
authors: Institute of Hygiene and Medical Ecology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors: Goran
authors: G
authors: Belojević
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression; D000786:Anger; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055771:Serbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012934:Social Isolation; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult