Left-handers are more tolerant of uncertainty

What is it about?

This is first study on relationship of hand preference with intolerance of uncertainty. We studied a large sample (N = 862) of college students and found that left- and inconsistent right-handers were more tolerant of uncertainty than consistent right-handers. Whereas left-handers were less prospective-intolerant of uncertainty than right-handers, inconsistent right-handers were less inhibitive-intolerant of uncertainty than consistent right-handers. Thus, the present study supports the likelihood that atypical cerebral lateralization advantages tolerance of uncertainty.

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Why is it important?

Intolerant of uncertainty is related with anxiety and most studies have reported that left-handers are more anxious. However, because lower intolerant of uncertainty occurs in left-handers (contrary to expectations), the present study supports mediation role of hand preference in the composition of anxiety, i.e. hand preference affect different components of anxiety (like intolerant of uncertainty and behavioral inhibition system) differently. Thus, the present study opens a new perspective on the constitution of anxiety.