Left-handedness and neurotic disturbances in adult urban population

Abstract

Introduction. 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. Conclusion. From a public health point of view, left-handed men may be regarded as a relatively vulnerable population category concerning mental health.