Influence of Digit Ratio (2D:4D) on Aerobic and Anaerobic Based Fitness Tests among Primary Schoolchildren

Abstract

As digit ratio (2D:4D) factor corresponds with high level of performances, fine-tune skills and immense ability were evidently found, but however the impact of 2D:4D on aerobic and anaerobic fitness components among younger subjects has yet to be fully understood. Thus, the main objective of this study is to examine the role of 2D:4D towards performance in physical fitness tests comprising of both aerobic-based and anaerobic-based elements. Results were collected from six physical fitness tests involving 594 primary schoolchildren (aged 10 to 12 years old) of both genders. Fingers images were taken through hand scanning method and the ratios were measured and calculated. Priorly, effect of covariances (age and body mass index) was found to have no effect on the fitness tests. For male students, the low 2D:4D of both hands showed various significant relationship with non-anaerobic based tests acquiring lower R2 below 10%. Both genders reported to have higher percentage of variability of dependant variables detected at anaerobic based tests with the highest was found at standing broad jump test. Meanwhile, for the female subjects mixed results were found with all aerobic based tests scored lower R2 below 10%. Overall, low digit ratio was much prominent in anaerobic-based tests in both male and female subjects. This study suggests that 2D:4D thrives more in anaerobic based events/tests among younger subjects and with thorough research, it is possible to implement 2D:4D as additional instrument in identifying sports talents and categorizing potential athletes according to the related fitness components.