THE RELATIONSHIP OF HANDEDNESS TO DEPRESSION IN MALE AND FEMALE COLLEGE-STUDENTS

In this study, I investigated the handedness patterns of groups of depressed and non-depressed male and female college students. For females, the rate of non-right-handedness was significantly greater in the depressed group than in the non-depressed group of subjects. No difference in handedness patterns was observed between the groups of depressed and non-depressed male subjects. I hypothesize that the observed association between handedness and depression among women may be attributable to the relationship of these two variables to a common third variable, sex-role behavior.