Relationship between handedness and persistent emotional distress in adults experiencing an earthquake Relazione tra dominanza emisferica e disturbi emotivi in una popolazione esposta a terremoto

SUMMARY. Aim. Post-traumatic emotional distress follows exposure to trauma and may be affected by atypical cerebral lat eralisation. We aimed to explore the relationship between handedness and emotional dysfunction in people exposed to a nat ural disaster. Methods. About 22 months after an earthquake, 326 exposed adults completed the Edinburgh Handedness In ventory, the Impact of Events Scale-Revised, and the Insomnia Severity Index. Results. Mixed-handed people, compared to right-handed, had a 3.3 fold increase in odds to have emotional distress. Consistent left-handers scored higher than consistent right- and mixed-handers on the ISI scale. Conclusions. Findings support that lateral preference is associated with emotion al distress in people exposed to trauma.