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. 2023 Jul 13;8(3):97.
doi: 10.3390/jfmk8030097.

Self-Efficacy and the Digit Ratio in a Group of Sports University Students

Simona Massimino  1 , Sergio Rinella  2 , Claudia Savia Guerrera  2 , Donatella Di Corrado  3 , Romina Astuto  2 , Alessia Sorbello  3 , Francesca Reina  2 , Vincenzo Perciavalle  4 , Andrea Buscemi  5 , Marinella Coco  2
Affiliations

Self-Efficacy and the Digit Ratio in a Group of Sports University Students

Simona Massimino et al. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. .

Abstract

Self-efficacy is one's awareness of being able to cope optimally with different situations. Perceived self-efficacy is a belief that closely involves emotional and personological functioning. In fact, when one perceives oneself as capable, the likelihood of success increases significantly. The aim of this research was to verify a possible correlation between self-efficacy and the Digit Ratio (2D:4D), referred to as prenatal androgen levels, and whether these correlate with some psychological variables, considering possible gender differences. This study involved 56 sports university students, whose 2D:4D ratio was calculated. Moreover, self-assessment questionnaires: the Self-efficacy Scale (SES), the Big Five Questionnaire-2 (BFQ-2), the Profile of Mood State (POMS), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y (STAI-Y) and the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) were administered. The data show that the perceived levels of self-efficacy seem to be influenced by an innate predisposition linked to prenatal androgen values to which the subjects were exposed during uterine life (2D:4D). This negative correlation indicates that the higher the value of the digit ratio, the more likely it is that the level of perceived self-efficacy will be lower. Finally, the degree of perceived self-efficacy also seems to depend on the levels of subjective anxiety, understood both as a personological disposition and a contingent condition, and the latter also seems to be influenced by prenatal androgen levels, particularly in women.

Keywords: emotion control; gender differences; personality; state–trait anxiety; testosterone.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Correlation between digit ratio (2D:4D), (a) Self-efficacy and (b) Emotional Stability (BFQ-2) in the entire sample.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Correlation between digit ratio (2D:4D) and both State (a) and Trait Anxiety (b) of STAI-Y in the female sample.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Correlation between Self-Efficacy and Cognitive Reappraisal (ERQ) in the entire sample.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Correlation between Self-efficacy and both State (a) and Trait Anxiety (b) of STAI-Y in the entire sample.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Correlation between Self-efficacy and Energy (a), Emotional Stability (b) and Openness (c) of BGQ-2 in the entire sample.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Correlations between State–Trait Anxiety (STAI-Y), Energy (a,b), Emotional Stability (c,d) and Openness (e) of BFQ-2 in the entire sample.
Figure 7
Figure 7
On the left are the mean values of Self-efficacy (a) and on the right are the mean values of Emotional Suppression (ERQ) (b), both in male and female samples; * p < 0.05, statistically significant difference.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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