Explaining the sex difference in dyslexia
Open accessAbstract
Background: Males are diagnosed with dyslexia more frequently than females, even in epidemiological samples. This may be explained by greater variance in males’ reading performance. Methods: We expand on previous research by rigorously testing the variance difference theory, and testing for mediation of the sex difference by cognitive correlates. We developed an analytic framework that can be applied to group differences in any psychiatric disorder. Results: Males’ overrepresentation in the low performance tail of the reading distribution was accounted for by mean and variance differences across sex. There was no sex difference at the high performance tail. Processing speed ( PS ) and inhibitory control partially mediated the sex difference. Verbal reasoning emerged as a strength in males. Conclusions: Our results complement a previous finding that PS partially mediates the sex difference in symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ), and helps explain the sex difference in both dyslexia and ADHD and their comorbidity.
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Regarding mathematical skills, findings are mixed, with a tendency for more female than male children to have challenges in this area.
“Regarding mathematical skills, findings are mixed, with a tendency for more female than male children to have challenges in this area144–146.”
From Sex and gender in neurodevelopmental conditions (2023) · cites this paper as [146]
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- Authors
- Arnett, A. B., Pennington, B. F., Peterson, R. L., Willcutt, E. G., DeFries, J. C., & Olson, R. K.
- Affiliations
- University of Washington (US)
- University of Denver (US)
- University of Colorado Anschutz (US)
- University of Colorado Boulder (US)
- Corresponding author
- Arnett, Anne B.
- Venue
- Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2017-02-08
- Volume
- 58
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 719-727
- ISSN
- 0021-9630 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-7610
- PMC
- PMC5438271
- OpenAlex
- W2587044998
- Cited by
- 162
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 60 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 4
- FWCI
- 43.60
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Digital Commons - DU (University of Denver) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (P50 HD027802, R01 HD038526)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Reading and Literacy Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Language Development and Disorders
- Keywords
- dyslexia, sex differences, reading achievement, processing speed, inhibitory control, verbal reasoning, mediation, ADHD comorbidity
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Colorado, Dyslexia, Female, Humans, Intelligence, Male, Reading, Sex Factors, Models, Statistical, Comorbidity, Young Adult
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