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Handedness and Age of Death: New Evidence on a Puzzling Relationship

Tim Engh

Minot State University, Minot, USA

Based on 5743 deaths in the United States and Canada, the present study was undertaken to verify and extend results suggesting that left handers have a shorter life expectancy than right handers. Unlike previous studies, which have merely dichotomized handedness, this study used a 5-point scale to measure handedness (extremely right handed, generally right handed, ambidextrous, generally left handed and extremely left handed). We found a significant tendency for one of the five handedness categories—those classified as generally left handers—to die at a significantly younger age than was true for the other four handedness groups. Our findings add to the controversy over links between handedness and age of death by suggesting that only a portion of left handers are at risk of premature death.

Key Words: handedness • mortality

Journal of Health Psychology, Vol. 5, No. 4, 561-565 (2000)
DOI: 10.1177/135910530000500412


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