Disparity in Educational Attainment Partially Explains Cognitive Gender Differences in Older Rural South Africans
Abstract Objectives Direction and magnitude of gender differences in late-life cognitive function are inextricably tied to sociocultural context. Our study evaluates education and literacy as primary drivers of gender equality in cognitive performance among middle-aged and older adults in rural Sout...
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Veröffentlicht in: | The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences Psychological sciences and social sciences, 2020-08, Vol.75 (7), p.e161-e173 |
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creator | Farrell, Meagan T Kobayashi, Lindsay C Montana, Livia Wagner, Ryan G Demeyere, Nele Berkman, Lisa |
description | Abstract
Objectives
Direction and magnitude of gender differences in late-life cognitive function are inextricably tied to sociocultural context. Our study evaluates education and literacy as primary drivers of gender equality in cognitive performance among middle-aged and older adults in rural South Africa.
Method
Data were collected on 1,938 participants aged 40–79 from Agincourt, South Africa. Cognitive function was measured via the Oxford Cognitive Screen-Plus, a tablet-based assessment with low literacy demands. Four cognitive domains were derived through confirmatory factor analysis: episodic memory, executive function, visual spatial, and language. Structural equation models tested domain-specific gender effects, incrementally controlling for demographic, education, health, and socioeconomic variables.
Results
In the model adjusting only for demographic factors, men outperformed women on executive function and visual-spatial domains. Adding education and literacy to the model revealed a robust female advantage in episodic memory, and reduced the magnitude of male advantage in executive function and visual and spatial by 47% and 42%, respectively. Health and socioeconomic factors did not alter patterns of gender associations in subsequent models.
Discussion
In this older South African cohort, gender inequality in cognitive performance was partially attributable to educational differences. Understanding biopsychosocial mechanisms that promote cognitive resilience in older women is critically important given the predominantly female composition of aging populations worldwide. |
doi_str_mv | 10.1093/geronb/gbaa035 |
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Objectives
Direction and magnitude of gender differences in late-life cognitive function are inextricably tied to sociocultural context. Our study evaluates education and literacy as primary drivers of gender equality in cognitive performance among middle-aged and older adults in rural South Africa.
Method
Data were collected on 1,938 participants aged 40–79 from Agincourt, South Africa. Cognitive function was measured via the Oxford Cognitive Screen-Plus, a tablet-based assessment with low literacy demands. Four cognitive domains were derived through confirmatory factor analysis: episodic memory, executive function, visual spatial, and language. Structural equation models tested domain-specific gender effects, incrementally controlling for demographic, education, health, and socioeconomic variables.
Results
In the model adjusting only for demographic factors, men outperformed women on executive function and visual-spatial domains. Adding education and literacy to the model revealed a robust female advantage in episodic memory, and reduced the magnitude of male advantage in executive function and visual and spatial by 47% and 42%, respectively. Health and socioeconomic factors did not alter patterns of gender associations in subsequent models.
Discussion
In this older South African cohort, gender inequality in cognitive performance was partially attributable to educational differences. Understanding biopsychosocial mechanisms that promote cognitive resilience in older women is critically important given the predominantly female composition of aging populations worldwide.</description><identifier>ISSN: 1079-5014</identifier><identifier>EISSN: 1758-5368</identifier><identifier>DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbaa035</identifier><identifier>PMID: 32211786</identifier><language>eng</language><publisher>US: Oxford University Press</publisher><subject>Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cognition ; Educational Status ; Female ; Health Status Disparities ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Rural Population - statistics & numerical data ; Sex Factors ; Socioeconomic Factors ; South Africa - epidemiology ; The Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences</subject><ispartof>The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences, 2020-08, Vol.75 (7), p.e161-e173</ispartof><rights>The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com. 2020</rights><rights>The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.</rights><lds50>peer_reviewed</lds50><oa>free_for_read</oa><woscitedreferencessubscribed>false</woscitedreferencessubscribed><citedby>FETCH-LOGICAL-c424t-681fb762075fd3386f1a499fdaf8d9b6de517a0443ef72515381d60a1d73b0a63</citedby><cites>FETCH-LOGICAL-c424t-681fb762075fd3386f1a499fdaf8d9b6de517a0443ef72515381d60a1d73b0a63</cites><orcidid>0000-0002-4507-4017 ; 0000-0003-2725-3107</orcidid></display><links><openurl>$$Topenurl_article</openurl><openurlfulltext>$$Topenurlfull_article</openurlfulltext><thumbnail>$$Tsyndetics_thumb_exl</thumbnail><link.rule.ids>230,314,776,780,881,1578,27901,27902</link.rule.ids><backlink>$$Uhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32211786$$D View this record in MEDLINE/PubMed$$Hfree_for_read</backlink></links><search><creatorcontrib>Farrell, Meagan T</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Kobayashi, Lindsay C</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Montana, Livia</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Wagner, Ryan G</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Demeyere, Nele</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Berkman, Lisa</creatorcontrib><title>Disparity in Educational Attainment Partially Explains Cognitive Gender Differences in Older Rural South Africans</title><title>The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences</title><addtitle>J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci</addtitle><description>Abstract
Objectives
Direction and magnitude of gender differences in late-life cognitive function are inextricably tied to sociocultural context. Our study evaluates education and literacy as primary drivers of gender equality in cognitive performance among middle-aged and older adults in rural South Africa.
Method
Data were collected on 1,938 participants aged 40–79 from Agincourt, South Africa. Cognitive function was measured via the Oxford Cognitive Screen-Plus, a tablet-based assessment with low literacy demands. Four cognitive domains were derived through confirmatory factor analysis: episodic memory, executive function, visual spatial, and language. Structural equation models tested domain-specific gender effects, incrementally controlling for demographic, education, health, and socioeconomic variables.
Results
In the model adjusting only for demographic factors, men outperformed women on executive function and visual-spatial domains. Adding education and literacy to the model revealed a robust female advantage in episodic memory, and reduced the magnitude of male advantage in executive function and visual and spatial by 47% and 42%, respectively. Health and socioeconomic factors did not alter patterns of gender associations in subsequent models.
Discussion
In this older South African cohort, gender inequality in cognitive performance was partially attributable to educational differences. Understanding biopsychosocial mechanisms that promote cognitive resilience in older women is critically important given the predominantly female composition of aging populations worldwide.</description><subject>Adult</subject><subject>Aged</subject><subject>Aged, 80 and over</subject><subject>Cognition</subject><subject>Educational Status</subject><subject>Female</subject><subject>Health Status Disparities</subject><subject>Humans</subject><subject>Male</subject><subject>Middle Aged</subject><subject>Neuropsychological Tests</subject><subject>Rural Population - statistics & numerical data</subject><subject>Sex Factors</subject><subject>Socioeconomic Factors</subject><subject>South Africa - epidemiology</subject><subject>The Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences</subject><issn>1079-5014</issn><issn>1758-5368</issn><fulltext>true</fulltext><rsrctype>article</rsrctype><creationdate>2020</creationdate><recordtype>article</recordtype><sourceid>EIF</sourceid><recordid>eNqFkc9vFCEUx4nR9Je9ejQc7WFaGAaYuZhstttq0qRG2zN5M8AWMwtTYBr3v5fNro2e5AJ5fPi8R74IfaDkkpKOXa1NDL6_WvcAhPE36IRK3lacifZtORPZVZzQ5hidpvSTlEVlc4SOWV1TKltxgp6vXZogurzFzuOVngfILngY8SJncH5jfMbfIGYH47jFq1_TWKoJL8Pau-xeDL41XpuIr521Jho_mLQz3Y-74vc5FtOPMOcnvLDRDeDTe_TOwpjM-WE_Q483q4fll-ru_vbrcnFXDU3d5Eq01PZS1ERyqxlrhaXQdJ3VYFvd9UIbTiWQpmHGyppTzlqqBQGqJesJCHaGPu-909xvjB7KR8owaopuA3GrAjj17413T2odXpQs_WvRFcGngyCG59mkrDYuDWYcwZswJ1WzlvG6oVwW9HKPDjGkFI19bUOJ2uWk9jmpQ07lwce_h3vF_wRTgIs9EObpf7LfpUChYg</recordid><startdate>20200813</startdate><enddate>20200813</enddate><creator>Farrell, Meagan T</creator><creator>Kobayashi, Lindsay C</creator><creator>Montana, Livia</creator><creator>Wagner, Ryan G</creator><creator>Demeyere, Nele</creator><creator>Berkman, Lisa</creator><general>Oxford University Press</general><scope>CGR</scope><scope>CUY</scope><scope>CVF</scope><scope>ECM</scope><scope>EIF</scope><scope>NPM</scope><scope>AAYXX</scope><scope>CITATION</scope><scope>7X8</scope><scope>5PM</scope><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4507-4017</orcidid><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2725-3107</orcidid></search><sort><creationdate>20200813</creationdate><title>Disparity in Educational Attainment Partially Explains Cognitive Gender Differences in Older Rural South Africans</title><author>Farrell, Meagan T ; Kobayashi, Lindsay C ; Montana, Livia ; Wagner, Ryan G ; Demeyere, Nele ; Berkman, Lisa</author></sort><facets><frbrtype>5</frbrtype><frbrgroupid>cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-c424t-681fb762075fd3386f1a499fdaf8d9b6de517a0443ef72515381d60a1d73b0a63</frbrgroupid><rsrctype>articles</rsrctype><prefilter>articles</prefilter><language>eng</language><creationdate>2020</creationdate><topic>Adult</topic><topic>Aged</topic><topic>Aged, 80 and over</topic><topic>Cognition</topic><topic>Educational Status</topic><topic>Female</topic><topic>Health Status Disparities</topic><topic>Humans</topic><topic>Male</topic><topic>Middle Aged</topic><topic>Neuropsychological Tests</topic><topic>Rural Population - statistics & numerical data</topic><topic>Sex Factors</topic><topic>Socioeconomic Factors</topic><topic>South Africa - epidemiology</topic><topic>The Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences</topic><toplevel>peer_reviewed</toplevel><toplevel>online_resources</toplevel><creatorcontrib>Farrell, Meagan T</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Kobayashi, Lindsay C</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Montana, Livia</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Wagner, Ryan G</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Demeyere, Nele</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Berkman, Lisa</creatorcontrib><collection>Medline</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>MEDLINE (Ovid)</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>PubMed</collection><collection>CrossRef</collection><collection>MEDLINE - Academic</collection><collection>PubMed Central (Full Participant titles)</collection><jtitle>The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences</jtitle></facets><delivery><delcategory>Remote Search Resource</delcategory><fulltext>fulltext</fulltext></delivery><addata><au>Farrell, Meagan T</au><au>Kobayashi, Lindsay C</au><au>Montana, Livia</au><au>Wagner, Ryan G</au><au>Demeyere, Nele</au><au>Berkman, Lisa</au><format>journal</format><genre>article</genre><ristype>JOUR</ristype><atitle>Disparity in Educational Attainment Partially Explains Cognitive Gender Differences in Older Rural South Africans</atitle><jtitle>The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences</jtitle><addtitle>J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci</addtitle><date>2020-08-13</date><risdate>2020</risdate><volume>75</volume><issue>7</issue><spage>e161</spage><epage>e173</epage><pages>e161-e173</pages><issn>1079-5014</issn><eissn>1758-5368</eissn><abstract>Abstract
Objectives
Direction and magnitude of gender differences in late-life cognitive function are inextricably tied to sociocultural context. Our study evaluates education and literacy as primary drivers of gender equality in cognitive performance among middle-aged and older adults in rural South Africa.
Method
Data were collected on 1,938 participants aged 40–79 from Agincourt, South Africa. Cognitive function was measured via the Oxford Cognitive Screen-Plus, a tablet-based assessment with low literacy demands. Four cognitive domains were derived through confirmatory factor analysis: episodic memory, executive function, visual spatial, and language. Structural equation models tested domain-specific gender effects, incrementally controlling for demographic, education, health, and socioeconomic variables.
Results
In the model adjusting only for demographic factors, men outperformed women on executive function and visual-spatial domains. Adding education and literacy to the model revealed a robust female advantage in episodic memory, and reduced the magnitude of male advantage in executive function and visual and spatial by 47% and 42%, respectively. Health and socioeconomic factors did not alter patterns of gender associations in subsequent models.
Discussion
In this older South African cohort, gender inequality in cognitive performance was partially attributable to educational differences. Understanding biopsychosocial mechanisms that promote cognitive resilience in older women is critically important given the predominantly female composition of aging populations worldwide.</abstract><cop>US</cop><pub>Oxford University Press</pub><pmid>32211786</pmid><doi>10.1093/geronb/gbaa035</doi><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4507-4017</orcidid><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2725-3107</orcidid><oa>free_for_read</oa></addata></record> |
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source | Oxford University Press Journals All Titles (1996-Current); MEDLINE; Elektronische Zeitschriftenbibliothek - Frei zugängliche E-Journals; Alma/SFX Local Collection |
subjects | Adult Aged Aged, 80 and over Cognition Educational Status Female Health Status Disparities Humans Male Middle Aged Neuropsychological Tests Rural Population - statistics & numerical data Sex Factors Socioeconomic Factors South Africa - epidemiology The Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences |
title | Disparity in Educational Attainment Partially Explains Cognitive Gender Differences in Older Rural South Africans |
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