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Lookup NU author(s): Tinisha Osu, Dr Gareth RichardsORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND).
Background: Tattoos bring risks yet no obvious evolutionary benefit. Koziel et al. (2010) reported increased fluctuating symmetry (a proxy for low developmental instability) in tattooed men, suggesting they could serve as fitness indicators.Aims: We replicate and extend the findings of Koziel et al. by examining fluctuating asymmetry of finger lengths and digit ratio (2D:4D) (a putative indicator of prenatal testosterone exposure) as predictors of adult tattoos prevalence.Study design: We used an online survey with a correlational design.Subjects: Participants were recruited from the UK and Poland via university participant pools and social media. Data were available for presence/absence of tattoos and at least one predictor variable (composite Fluctuating Asymmetry [cFA], right-hand digit ratio [R2D:4D] and left-hand digit ratio [L2D:4D]) for n=186 males and n=997 females.Outcome measures: We firstly assessed presence/absence of tattoos; when at least one tattoo was present, we also examined overall number and highest visibility.Results: Greater cFA was associated with lower likelihood of having tattoo in males, though in females greater cFA was associated with higher numbers of tattoos. R2D:4D and L2D:4D correlated negatively with number of tattoos in males, and a positive correlation between L2D:4D and number of tattoos was observed in females. However, these latter findings did not remain significant after controlling for covariates.Conclusions: Tattoos may act as fitness indicators in males, though this explanation appears not to extend to females. Prenatal testosterone may also play a role, though doubt is cast on this premise because 2D:4D effects did not remain statistically significant after controlling for covariates.
Author(s): Osu T, Lechler-Lombardi J, Butler A, Newman M, Milkowska K, Galbarczyk A, Richards G
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Early Human Development
Year: 2020
Volume: 152
Print publication date: 01/01/2021
Online publication date: 17/11/2020
Acceptance date: 10/11/2020
Date deposited: 10/11/2020
ISSN (electronic): 0378-3782
Publisher: Elsevier
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2020.105273
DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2020.105273
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