Investigating the association between resilience and the 2D:4D finger length ratio in medical students

Resilience, defined as the ability to adapt and recover from adversity, plays a critical role in mitigating psychological distress, particularly in high-stress environments like medical education. This study investigates the association between resilience and the second-to-fourth digit length ratio (2D:4D), a proposed biomarker of prenatal androgen exposure, among medical students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Employing a cross-sectional design, 240 students from diverse disciplines participated. Resilience was assessed using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and 2D:4D ratios were measured with precision digital calipers.

Results revealed no significant correlation between 2D:4D ratios and resilience scores. However, resilience was notably lower among participants with current psychiatric disorders, a history of suicide attempts, or self-harm. Gender-specific analyses highlighted an association between lower right-hand 2D:4D ratios and self-harm or suicide attempts in females, suggesting potential biological and sociocultural interactions. These findings underscore resilience as a multifactorial construct, shaped more by adaptive mechanisms and environmental influences than by prenatal biomarkers.

While the study's rigorous methodology strengthens its reliability, its focus on academically high-performing students may limit generalizability. Future research should incorporate diverse populations, longitudinal designs, and advanced biomarker analyses to better elucidate resilience's complex determinants. These insights are pivotal for developing targeted mental health interventions in high-stress academic contexts.