Association of behavioral inhibition with hair pigmentation in a European sample

Biol Psychol. 2006 Jun;72(3):344-6. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2005.12.001. Epub 2006 Jan 18.

Abstract

Behavioral inhibition, a temperamental trait signalling a predisposition to childhood and adolescent anxiety disorders, is slightly more frequent in America among Caucasian children having blue irises. This paper examines a community sample of 101 German toddlers assessed for behavioral inhibition in a standardized laboratory procedure. Hair pigmentation was found to be significantly associated with behavioral inhibition in the sense that blond children exhibited higher fear scores. As in American samples, blue-eyed children had a higher fear score than did other children, but this difference was not statistically significant.

MeSH terms

  • Anxiety Disorders / diagnosis
  • Anxiety Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Child
  • Europe
  • Eye Color
  • Fear
  • Female
  • Hair Color / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Inhibition, Psychological*
  • Male
  • Social Behavior
  • Temperament