Are sex differences in self‐estimated intelligence an elusive phenomenon? Exploring the role of working memory, creativity, and other psychological correlates in young and older adults
Open Access
- 26 January 2023
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Brain and Behavior
- Vol. 13 (2), e2857
- https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2857
Abstract
BackgroundAlthough there is research examining the demographic predictors of self-estimated intelligence (SEI) in young adults, so far SEI in old age is little investigated. This study aims to examine the influence of additional variables such as self-estimated emotional intelligence (SEEQ), physical attractiveness, health, general optimism, religiousness, and working memory (WM) on SEI both in young and older adults. MethodsA total of 159 young (90 women, M-age = 28.77, SD = 8.83) and 152 older adults (93 women, M-age = 71.92, SD = 6.84) completed a measure of SEI as well as questions regarding the abovementioned variables. Given that WM is considered a very strong predictor of intelligence, neuropsychological assessment included the measurement of WM and phonologically cued semantic retrieval-verbal storage and processing in WM, as assessed by the Digit Span Forward and Verbal Fluency Task. The visual storage in WM was assessed with a variation of the Visual Patterns Test, and the visual storage and processing in WM with the Corsi blocks task (backward). Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS-X) was also administered as a possible influence on cognitive performance and SEI. ResultsYoung males rated their intelligence quotient (IQ) and emotional quotient (EQ) higher than young females. This was not confirmed for older adults, for which surprisingly the reversed pattern was found. Older women reported higher IQ and EQ than older men. Correlations showed for all participants that the higher they rated their IQ, the higher their ratings of EQ, physical attractiveness, health, and religiousness. No significant correlations between objective tests regarding WM and SEI were found, supporting SEI overestimations. Age, sex, physical attractiveness, and SEEQ were significant predictors of SEI. DiscussionFor the first time, a reverse sex difference across age groups in SEI is found. Implications for individuals and healthcare professionals involved in assessment are suggested.Keywords
This publication has 80 references indexed in Scilit:
- Self estimates of general, crystallized, and fluid intelligences in an ethnically diverse populationLearning and Individual Differences, 2012
- How smart do you think you are? A meta-analysis on the validity of self-estimates of cognitive ability.Psychological Bulletin, 2012
- Gender differences in self-estimates of general, mathematical, spatial and verbal intelligence: Four meta analysesLearning and Individual Differences, 2011
- Being playful and smart? The relations of adult playfulness with psychometric and self-estimated intelligence and academic performanceLearning and Individual Differences, 2011
- Sex differences in self-estimation of lay views about intelligence among adolescentsPersonality and Individual Differences, 2009
- Children's Search for Gender CuesCurrent Directions in Psychological Science, 2004
- The Corsi Block-Tapping Task: Methodological and Theoretical ConsiderationsBrain and Cognition, 1998
- SELF‐PERCEIVED CREATIVITY IN THE LATER YEARS: CASE STUDIES OF OLDER NEBRASKANSEducational Gerontology, 1991
- Changes in Creativity with Age: Data, Explanations, and Further PredictionsInternational Journal of Aging & Human Development, 1989
- Ambiguity and Bias in the Self-ConceptSocial Psychology Quarterly, 1981