Foot preference behavior : a developmental perspective

Abstract

Delineating the genesis of foot preference behaviors from early childhood to young adulthood was the primary focus of this study. Foot (and hand) preference behaviors were assessed in a sample of 956 subjects who represented age groups of 4 -, 8 -, 11-, 13-, 16-, and 20-years. Frequency data analyses indicated that across all age-groups, right-footed and right-handed preferences were predominant. Of interest, however, was that incidences of right-footedness were always lower than that of right-handedness, and incidences of mixed-footedness were greater than that of mixed-handedness. Gender differences in foot and hand preference behaviors were not evident (p < .05). Significant (p < .001) age-related differences were found in foot, but not hand, preference behaviors. Post hoc analyses revealed that 4- and 8-year olds were less right-footed than that of the older age groups. It was concluded that when compared to handedness, foot preference behaviors are more likely to follow a variant pattern of development. Of the existing models of hemispheric specialization, Annett's right-shift hypothesis seems to be the most congruent for the results obtained in this study. Annett's model suggests that the direction (right, mixed, left) of foot preference is genetically determined, yet cultural/environmental factors may affect the degree (strength) of preference.