Gender differences in character strengths among Chinese pre-adolescents and adolescents: a multidimensional scaling profile analysis

Abstract

Background: The present study explores gender differences through a characterological lens, inspired by the positive-psychological VIA-Youth measure. Existing research on gender differences in character development has established a certain stereotype of girls outperforming boys in western culture. Methods: Based on a sample of 695 students in elementary, middle, and high school students, we analyzed gender differences in character development in the Chinese cultural context using multidimensional scaling (MDS) profile analysis, providing a cultural account of gender differences via profile patterns. Results: Our study identified specific items where pre-adolescent and adolescent boys outperformed girls (while acknowledging there are also specific items where girls outperformed boys) based on data sourced from a Chinese context. We found gender differences in the same character strengths due to situational factors, such as intensive and sustained educational interventions and established gender traditions/expectations, which can shape the exhibition of particular character strengths differently among girls and boys. Conclusion: Findings can offer an antidote to a Western-dominated research perspective on character or moral education. It enriches the literature on moral education in a different cultural context and provides evidence of gender differences in character strengths.