The changing face of cognitive gender differences in Europe

Higher living conditions are associated with smaller sex differences in cognitive tasks in which there is an overall male advantage (e.g., numeracy).

“For example, we have reported that for cognitive performance, higher living conditions are associated with larger sex differences in cognitive tasks in which there is an overall female advantage (e.g., episodic memory) and smaller in those in which there is an overall male advantage (e.g., numeracy; Asperholm, Nagar, et al., 2019; Weber et al., 2014).”

Higher living conditions are associated with larger sex differences in cognitive tasks in which there is an overall female advantage (e.g., episodic memory).

“For example, we have reported that for cognitive performance, higher living conditions are associated with larger sex differences in cognitive tasks in which there is an overall female advantage (e.g., episodic memory) and smaller in those in which there is an overall male advantage (e.g., numeracy; Asperholm, Nagar, et al., 2019; Weber et al., 2014).”

Two studies that investigated Semantic memory (category fluency) indicated that there is a male advantage.

“By contrast, two studies that investigated Semantic memory (category fluency) indicated that there is a male advantage (Bonsang et al., 2017; Weber et al., 2014).”

For Semantic memory (category fluency), analyzed in the old analyses, both studies indicated that the male advantage is smaller in countries with higher living conditions (Bonsang et al., 2017; Weber et al., 2014).

“For Semantic memory (category fluency), analyzed in the old analyses, both studies indicated that the male advantage is smaller in countries with higher living conditions (Bonsang et al., 2017; Weber et al., 2014).”

Studies that used data on older adults (55+) found a rather coherent pattern of sex differences being smaller in countries with higher living conditions.

“Note that studies that used data on older adults (55+; Dickerson et al., 2015; Voyer & Voyer, 2014; Weber et al., 2014) found a rather coherent pattern of sex differences being smaller in countries with higher living conditions.”