Gender differences in cognitive abilities: The mediating role of health state and health habits

Abstract

Gender differences were examined in performance on the California Verbal Learning Test (immediate and delayed recall), Digit Span Backwards, Symbol-Digit Modalities Test, Spot-the-Word, and simple and choice reaction time. The data came from a community survey involving 2404 people aged 20-24 years, 2530 aged 40-44 years, and 2551 aged 60-64 years. Males performed better on Digit Span Backwards and on reaction time, while females were better on recall and Symbol-Digit Modalities Test. A range of sociodemographic, health state, and health habit variables were examined as possible mediators of these gender differences. Mediating effects were found for education, non-English speaking background..