# Sex-Specific Associations Between 2D:4D Digit Ratio and Physical Fitness in Prepubertal Children: Evidence from Standardized Agility, Strength, and Endurance Assessments

## TL;DR

In prepubertal boys, a higher 2D:4D digit ratio is linked to better agility and strength performance, suggesting subtle prenatal hormone influences on childhood fitness.

## Contribution

This study identifies sex-specific associations between 2D:4D ratios and physical fitness in prepubertal children.

## Key findings

- Higher 2D:4D ratios in boys correlate with better bent-arm hang performance and faster agility times.
- No significant associations were found in girls, indicating sex-specific prenatal hormone effects.
- Effect sizes were small, suggesting limited practical relevance for talent identification.

## Abstract

What are the main findings?
In boys, higher 2D:4D ratios were modestly linked to better bent-arm hang performance and faster agility times.No significant associations were found in girls, highlighting the subtle sex-specific influences of prenatal hormones on childhood fitness.

In boys, higher 2D:4D ratios were modestly linked to better bent-arm hang performance and faster agility times.

No significant associations were found in girls, highlighting the subtle sex-specific influences of prenatal hormones on childhood fitness.

What is the implication of the main finding?
Prenatal hormonal environment may contribute subtly to physical performance traits in early childhood.These associations are not strong enough for talent identification but may guide future longitudinal and developmental research.

Prenatal hormonal environment may contribute subtly to physical performance traits in early childhood.

These associations are not strong enough for talent identification but may guide future longitudinal and developmental research.

Background: The second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) serves as a non-invasive proxy for prenatal androgen exposure. While its relationship with adult athletic ability is well documented, evidence for its association with childhood physical fitness remains inconsistent, and links between 2D:4D and objective fitness measures in prepubertal children are unclear. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 338 prepubertal children (181 girls, 157 boys; aged 5–12 years) underwent precise measurement of right- and left-hand 2D:4D ratios (intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.94). Physical fitness was evaluated using standardized tests: the Illinois agility run, bent-arm hang, and standing long jump. Results: Among boys, higher 2D:4D ratios were modestly associated with prolonged bent-arm hang performance (β = 0.19, q = 0.04) and shorter Illinois agility times (β = −0.19, q = 0.04). No significant associations were observed in girls. All effect sizes were small, suggesting subtle, sex-dependent influences rather than robust predictors of performance. Conclusions: These findings indicate that prenatal hormonal environment may exert a limited, sex-specific influence on early physical fitness characteristics. Although biologically informative, the observed associations are insufficient for direct application in talent identification in sports. Longitudinal research incorporating direct hormonal measurements and broader populations is recommended to clarify developmental mechanisms and causal pathways.