LEADING ARTICLE
American Journal of Human Biology
Abstract: Objectives: On average, males are stronger than females, with hormonal changes during puberty often cited as a contributing factor to this advantage. However, not all evidence consistently supports this explanation. The purpose of this study was to determine (1) when sex differences in handgrip strength and testosterone emerge, and (2) whether testosterone mediates the sex difference in handgrip strength and if this effect varies across age. Methods: Time-varying effect modeling (TVEM) was used to examine age-specific trajectories of handgrip strength and testosterone, and to assess whether these trajectories differed by sex. A moderated mediation analysis was conducted to test whether the sex difference in handgrip strength was mediated by testosterone level, and whether this effect varied across age. Data were drawn from the 2011-2012 and 2013-2014 cycles (N = 11,035) of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results: TVEM indicated that the sex difference in handgrip strength emerged at age 8, whereas the sex difference in testosterone level became evident at age 10. A moderated mediation analysis revealed that testosterone mediated the association between sex and handgrip strength, and this effect decreased with age (IMM = -0.18, 95% CI: -0.20, -0.16). Conclusion: Sex difference in handgrip strength appears to be driven, in part, by the testosterone levels. However, this difference can be observed even before the onset of puberty, which suggests that testosterone alone does not fully explain the sex difference in muscle strength. This finding may have important implications for decisions regarding inclusivity and fairness in sports that emphasize strength.
(*My brief comment on this paper is available on X here. To support further research into childhood sex differences in fitness, please see the Go Fund Me page that I created last year for my scientific work in this area. Earlier this year, I published meta-analyses on childhood sex differences in grip strength and leg strength, and there are more analyses currently underway!)
ARTICLES AND ESSAYS
Sex/Gender
1 in 3 Brown U. freshmen are LGBT: survey
The College Fix
Sex Differences in Work Preferences, Life Values, and Personal Views
The Nature-Nurture-Nietzsche Newsletter
Is Masculinity Inherently a Bad Thing?
YouGov
Young women are the most likely to say so – but the majority see it as neither good nor bad
The Sun
The top 10 reasons why men hesitate with voicing their feelings - and where to get help for mental health
Education
New poll: Students say free speech matters until someone says something offensive
The College Fix
Beacons Lighting the Way to Education Reform
Australians for Science & Freedom
27 things we wish we’d known when we started our PhDs
Nature
Nature’s survey of PhD candidates reveals hard-won wisdom on choosing supervisors, managing mental health and surviving academic culture
Trustees ratify plan to reshape Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses for long-term success
Penn State University
Penn State to close seven Commonwealth Campuses over two years and continue investment in 13 others
Politics
Institute of Public Affairs
Americans increasingly see legal sports betting as a bad thing for society and sports
Pew Research Center
Exercise Science
Exercise Professionals’ Strength Training Attitudes, Behaviors, and Knowledge: A Survey
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
Abstract: Strength training is frequently used by various professionals, yet little is known about their attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge concerning strength training. An anonymous survey incorporating items on strength training attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge was distributed online (i.e., social media, email, listservs) and responded to by 1,298 exercise professionals (68 athletic trainers, 171 personal trainers, 23 exercise physiologists, 780 physical therapists, 35 physical therapist assistants, 78 strength and conditioning coaches, 87 faculty members, and 56 others). Attitudes and behaviors were compared among professions using Pearson’s chi-squared test; average knowledge scores were compared through 1-way analysis of variance. A binary logistic regression (cutoff score = ≥70%) was used to determine how demographics, attitudes, and behaviors affected knowledge scores. Alpha was set at 0.01 for all comparisons. Sixty-eight percent of physical therapists felt that strength training is inadequately applied in their profession compared with 11% of strength coaches. Strength coaches (73.1%) and personal trainers (65.5%) were the most likely professions to document rest periods. Compared with physical therapists, personal trainers and strength coaches were less likely to score ≥70% on knowledge items (OR = 0.22, 99% confidence interval [CI] 0.06-0.79 and OR = 0.21, 99% CI, 0.06-0.80), respectively. Having a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist certification increased the odds of scoring ≥70% (OR = 2.47, 99% CI, 1.46-4.16). Exercise professionals have similar attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge of strength training, with a few important exceptions. Results can be used to guide conversations between professions with the goal of improving strength training implementation.
RUBBISH BIN
A Perfect Storm: Black Feminism and Women’s National Basketball Association Black Athlete Activism
Sociology of Sport Journal
Abstract: This article pays homage to Black Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players and their activist efforts. Such players are often-overlooked activists who are always “holdin it down” while simultaneously keeping activism at the forefront of their agenda. When the 2020 Women’s National Basketball Association season opened, the athletes in this league took the opportunity to highlight social injustice in the United States; not surprising given the history of Black feminism and athlete activism in this league. Using underwater waves as a metaphor, we examine how the intersectionality of Black feminism and Black athlete activism has largely gone unnoticed. Feminism and women’s rights movements have largely been associated with White women while Black activism has been associated with Black men. This manuscript aims to highlight the efforts of Black women and nonbinary athletes whose work has been instrumental in societal progression.
(*My brief comment on this paper is available on X here.)
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If you prefer to donate to a specific project, please see the Go Fund Me page for my current research on sex differences in muscle strength in children.
Thanks, James. Men's fear of speaking out is likely due to being ostracized or shamed for speaking out.
Warranted .🔎✨️👀