HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS Psychiatric Bulletin Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rees, L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Rees, L.

A Factorial Study of Physical Constitution in Women

Wales and Monmouthshire

ABSTRACT

1. The paper describes a factorial analysis of the intercorrelations of 15 anthropometric variables in a group of 200 service women neurosis patients successively admitted to Mill Hill Emergency Hospital.
   
2. The criteria used in the past for classifying body build are described, and the need for an inductive approach emphasized. The difficulties encountered in classifying female body build are discussed, and anthropometric sex differences considered in the light of a comparison of male and female groups and sex growth differentials.
   
3. The matrix of tetrachoric correlations of the 15 anthropometric variables was analysed by Burt's summation method and two main factors were extracted:
   1. General factor influencing growth in all directions and accounting for 41 per cent. of the variance.
      
   2. Type factor which was bipolar, having positive saturation with length measurements and negative saturation with breadth, width and circumferential dimensions. This factor accounted for 16 per cent. of the variance, and is the factor responsible for the existence of two antithetical types of body build, the narrow or leptomorph and the broad or eurymorph type.
      
   
   
4. The relationship of the factors to growth processes is considered in relationship to physical development of children at various ages, types of growth in animal kingdom and genetic aspects.
   
5. The prerequisites of a body-build index are described. Utilizing the results of factor analysis, the following measurements were selected for inclusion in a body build index because of their high saturation with the type factor: Stature, symphysis height, chest and hip circumference.
   A regression equation containing the four measurements duly weighted according to saturation with the type factor was calculated as follows: Index of female body build = + .59 stature + .47 symphysis height –.31 chest circumference –.64 hip circumference.
   
6. The new index of female body build was calculated in a group of 400 women service neurosis patients. The frequency distribution curve of the index was normal and unimodal, indicating a continuous variation in physique, therefore lending no support to the theory of the existence of discrete physical types.
   
7. Using demarcation points at one standard deviation below the mean the frequency distribution curve was divided into—
   1. Leptomorphs with index value + 5.0 and higher.
      
   2. Mesomorphs –2.59 to + .5.0.
      
   3. Eurymorphs –2.59 and less.
      
   
   

These ranges of physique, being capable of objective delineation by the new index of body build, afford convenient body-type classes for clinical practice and research.