Correlates of left-handedness and nailbiting in Maltese primary schools

Abstract

This survey is concerned with the incidence of left-handedness and nail biting and their correlation with age, sex and ability. It also investigates differences in scholastic achievement between (a) left-handed and right-handed children, (b) nailbiters and non-nailbiters. For the purpose of this survey a sample of 3852 children (1994 boys, 1858 girls) from Years 3, 4 and 5 (mean ages 8:0, 9:0, 10:0 respectively) in Maltese state schools were considered . The incidence of left-handed children was found to be 8.80%. A statistically significant difference was found between the incidence of left-handed boys (10.13%) and left-handed girls (7.37%), while no statistically significant differences were found across age or ability. The incidents of nail biters were found to be 63.58%. No statistically significant differences were found in the incidence of nailbiting with respect to age, sex, or ability. Finally, the scholastic achievement between left-handed and children and right-handed children and between nail biters and non-nail biters was not found to be statistically significant.