Examining the relationship of handed preferences and right-handed pressure with anxiety, social anxiety, self-esteem and trauma

This study aimed to examine the relationship between handedness and right-handedness pressure and self-esteem, social anxiety, state and trait anxiety, and cumulative trauma dimensions. The main problem of the study was to compare the scores of right-handed, left-handed, or ambidextrous individuals in the dimensions of self-esteem, social anxiety, state and trait anxiety, and cumulative trauma. In addition to the existing literature, the same variables were examined in individuals who were and were not pressured to use their right hands. The sample of the study consisted of 152 individuals randomly selected via the internet. The Edinburgh Handedness Inventory, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, State and Trait Anxiety Scale, and Cumulative Trauma Scale Short Form were used as data collection tools. The findings show that the mean score of positive reactions to trauma of two-handed individuals is significantly lower than the mean score of right-handed individuals, and the score of negative reactions to trauma of individuals who are pressured to use their right hands is significantly higher than that of individuals who are not pressured to use their right hands. In addition, the self-esteem scores of two-handed individuals were found to be significantly higher than those of right-handed individuals.