Individual Differences In Gender Research Articles

Toward a comprehensive understanding of massive open online course adoption among college students

AbstractThis paper investigated the factors affecting the behavioral intention (BI) and usage behavior (UB) of 548 Chinese college students in massive open online courses (MOOCs). We extended the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model by incorporating self‐regulated learning (SRL) management, perceived pleasure (PP), and perceived cost constructs. This study also analyzed the moderating role of individual differences in gender, grade, major, and experience in MOOCs. Data were collected through both offline surveys across 10 universities and an online survey platform. Results from structural equation modeling and multi‐linear regression analyses revealed that students' BI was significantly and positively influenced by six factors: performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions (FC), social influence, SRL management (SM), and PP. Furthermore, we found that UB was predicted by BI, FC, and SM. Moreover, BI played a mediating role in the relationship between the two determining variables (i.e., FC and SM) and UB. Differences in MOOC experience level had a moderation effect. The study provided implications for various stakeholders regarding designing MOOC platforms, structures, and teaching activities.

Human-AI collaboration: Unraveling the effects of user proficiency and AI agent capability in intelligent decision support systems

Artificial intelligence (AI) agents are integral components of modern intelligent decision support systems (IDSS), providing their capability to assist in decision-making processes. Understanding the influence of AI involvement on human responses within these systems is crucial for fostering appropriate reliance on AI advice and ensuring a comfortable user experience. This study delves into the impact of AI agents on decision change, correct rate change, confidence rate change and pleasure rating among users. It explores the main and interactive effects of user proficiency and AI agent capability on user responses. A block-factorial experiment involving 45 participants was conducted. The results indicated that high-capability AI agents were associated with substantial decision change, correct rate change and confidence rate change. Participants with higher proficiency, both subjectively and objectively, exhibited reduced reliance on AI agents for task execution. Notably, the involvement of AI agents led to a slight decline in correct rates for participants of high competence (i.e., participants' independent correct rate exceeds AI agent capability), while still enhancing their confidence levels. Additionally, agents lacking human-like embodiment tended to enhance participants’ pleasure ratings. Individual differences in gender, collaboration experience with AI agent, and stereotype on AI agent capability also shaped the decision changes and pleasure ratings of participants. These findings underscore the presence of complementary competence interaction between user and AI agent within IDSS, and can be applied in designing capability of advisory AI agents with consideration of user proficiency and individual characteristics. Relevance to industryThe findings can be used as guidelines for designing AI agents and specifying their application strategies to integrate the assistance of AI agents effectively in intelligent decision support systems.

Facial attractiveness in the eyes of men with high arousal.

Individuals differ in how they judge facial attractiveness. However, little is known about the role of arousal level and gender differences in individuals' facial attractiveness judgments. We used resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) to investigate this issue. A total of 48 men (aged 22.5±3.03years [mean±SD], range: 18-30years) and 27 women (aged 20.3±2.03years [mean±SD], range: 18-25years) participated in the experiment. After the EEG was collected, participants were instructed to complete a facial attractiveness judgment task. Connectome-based predictive modeling was used to predict individual judgment of facial attractiveness. Men with high arousal judged female faces as more attractive (M=3.85, SE=0.81) than did men with low arousal (M=3.33, SE=0.81) and women (M=3.24, SE=1.02). Functional connectivity of the alpha band predicted judgment of female facial attractiveness in men but not in women. After controlling for the age and variability, the prediction effect was still significant. Our results provide neural evidence for the enhancement of the judgment of facial attractiveness in men with high arousal levels, which supports the hypothesis that individuals' spontaneous arousal contributes to variations in facial attractiveness preferences.

Desynchronized daily activity rhythms and gender related psychological well-being of Moroccan university students during the quarantine-isolation.

The disturbance of students' biological and academic rhythms induced by the Coronavirus generated considerable challenges that had an influence on their psychological well-being. This study aims to highlight the daily rhythm desynchronization and examine the mental health of Moroccan students who were impacted, notably females, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in May 2020 at ten Moroccan faculties including 312 students with an average age of 22 ± 1.70 years old, processed according to a random sampling. A Daily Activities Biorhythm Questionnaire was used to assess the students' daily activities time use and duration, while the PTSD Symptom Scale, Hamilton Scale, Worry Domains Questionnaire, and Visual Analog Mood State Scale were used to assess their mental health. A statistical analysis used both Chi-square and t test to evaluate the relationship between females and males as two independent groups to the studied variables. Based on individual gender differences, a significant disruption emerged in the daily time use and duration of activities during home confinement. Besides, females were more likely to experience psychological issues notably anxiety (2.04 ± 0.49), physical tiredness (2.11 ± 0.39), sadness (p <.05), and posttraumatic stress disorder (p <.01). In contrast, there is a strong correlation between males' concern of declining employment (p <.05) and their worry of declining family budgets (2.10 ± 1.39). As an emerging behavior for a new risk factor, the daily activities rhythm of Moroccan university students have been altered and mental health difficulties have appeared due to the quarantine isolation. This might influence their overall academic performance and psychological balance. In this instance, psychological assistance is highly recommended.

Gender differences in psychiatric comorbidity and personality characteristics among adults seeking treatment for problematic internet use.

In the present study, we investigated gender differences in personality and psychiatric correlates among adults (N = 115) seeking treatment for problematic internet use (PIU) at a specialized clinic in São Paulo, Brazil. All participants were assessed at the beginning of their treatment for co-occurring psychiatric conditions, other addictive behaviors, and personality characteristics. Women (n = 20) were more likely to present with greater rates of psychiatric comorbidity compared to men (n = 95), including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bulimia nervosa. Women also had a greater severity of certain behavioral addictions, such as compulsive buying and disordered eating. Gender differences were also found across personality characteristics, with women scoring higher on impulsivity, novelty seeking, and self-transcendence compared to men. To our knowledge, the present study is the first to investigate gender differences for PIU in a clinical sample. The results suggest that there are notable gender differences in individuals seeking treatment for PIU which underscores the importance of assessing for co-occurring conditions, especially in women. Understanding the characteristics associated with PIU can help serve to inform the most appropriate interventions to bolster treatment outcomes.

Gender Differences in Alcohol Use: a Nationwide Study in a Multiethnic Population

The increase in alcohol consumption, and the greater consequences of chronic alcohol use among females, as well as the convergence of the gender gap warrants investigation. This paper aims to uncover gender differences in individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) in Singapore. The SMHS 2016 was a population-based, cross-sectional, epidemiological study. Recruitment spanned from August 2016 to March 2018, where 6126 respondents were recruited. Similarly to global estimates, lifetime prevalence and 12-month prevalence for AUD were higher in males than females. However, females had a higher prevalence of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) co-morbidity than males. Women also had an earlier onset and age of recovery of AUD than men. Alarmingly, male (94.14%) and female (100%) respondents reported low help-seeking for their AUD. Gender differences in individuals with AUD were identified in Singapore population. Future research should direct its effort to identify barriers to help-seeking for individuals with alcohol use disorder.

Partner Care Arrangements and Well-Being in Mid- and Later Life: The Role of Gender Across Care Contexts.

ObjectivesWe assess gender moderation in the association between partner care arrangements and individuals’ well-being, and the extent to which gender differences vary across European care contexts.MethodsWe use 2015 data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe for 3,465 couples aged 50+, where at least 1 partner receives care. We assess gender differences in individuals’ life satisfaction and depressive symptoms across 5 partner care arrangements: solo-; shared formal; shared informal; outsourced formal; and outsourced informal care. We explore heterogeneity in the gendered associations across 4 care contexts: Northern, Western, Southern, and Eastern Europe.ResultsSharing care with formal providers is associated with lower well-being among women than men, with a significant well-being “penalty” among Southern European women with partners in shared formal care. Outsourcing partner care to informal providers is associated with higher well-being than other care arrangements for men across care contexts, but with lower well-being for women in Southern Europe.DiscussionPolicies to support caregivers’ well-being need to be sensitive to the coordination of formal and informal caregiving support for men and women in their respective care contexts.

Bidirectional spillover across days between family assistance and physical health experiences during adolescence.

Helping the family may either promote or undermine adolescents' physical health and well-being. Adolescents (N = 396, 58% female, Mage = 14.57 years) completed diary checklists for 14 days, reporting whether they provided instrumental assistance (e.g., tangible tasks) and emotional support (e.g., listening, giving advice) to family, as well as their amount of physical activity, sleep, and physical symptoms (e.g., headache, backpain) each day. After providing emotional support, adolescents slept more that night and experienced fewer physical symptoms the next day, over and above prior day levels. When adolescents provided instrumental assistance on school days (but not nonschool days), they engaged in less physical activity that day. These results were consistent across individual differences in gender, age, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity. In addition, bidirectional associations emerged such that adolescents were more likely to provide instrumental assistance on days after they slept more. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Motivated and Capable but No Space for Error

This article presents the results of a research study about the experiences of women in Open Source Software communities. The lack of women in computing professions serves as a cause of social inequity and in this research we develop a nuanced understanding of the experiences of women participating in open-source software. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with eleven women representing multiple countries and a variety of open-source software projects. The theory of individual differences in gender and information technology (IT) laid the foundation for data analysis and interpretation. The results demonstrate varied experiences of women, the need for women-to-women mentoring, and the need for presence and enforcement of Codes of Conduct in the online communities. Women shared their experiences of working in a variety of roles and the importance of all the roles in product development and maintenance. The persistence of women in OSS communities despite the toxic masculine culture, and their interest in improving the environment for other women and marginalized newcomers, was evident from the interviews.

Gender Matters: The Effects of Gender and Segmentation Preferences on Work-to-Family Conflict

Many employees work under a family sacrifice climate, facing employer pressure to put the demands of work before the demands of family and leading to increased work-to-family conflict. This climate enforces consistent behavioral expectations across all employees. However, employees likely experience family sacrifice climates differently. Drawing on social role theory and boundary theory, we investigate how individual differences in gender and boundary management preferences interact to shape the relationship between workplace family sacrifice climate and work-to-family conflict in a two-wave sample of 157 professional employees. Results show women experience more work-to-family conflict from family sacrifice climates than men. We find that segmentation preferences further shape this relationship, but in opposite ways for men and women. Results indicate higher segmentation preferences are associated with a stronger relationship between family sacrifice climate and work-to-family conflict for women, but a weaker relationship for men. We discuss implications of these findings for understanding the role of organizational climate in creating gendered work-family experiences.

Infant perception of causal motion produced by humans and inanimate objects

Both the movements of people and inanimate objects are intimately bound up with physical causality. Furthermore, in contrast to object movements, causal relationships between limb movements controlled by humans and their body displacements uniquely reflect agency and goal-directed actions in support of social causality. To investigate the development of sensitivity to causal movements, we examined the looking behavior of infants between 9 and 18 months of age when viewing movements of humans and objects. We also investigated whether individual differences in gender and gross motor functions may impact the development of the visual preferences for causal movements. In Experiment 1, infants were presented with walking stimuli showing either normal body translation or a “moonwalk” that reversed the horizontal motion of body translations. In Experiment 2, infants were presented with unperformable actions beyond infants’ gross motor functions (i.e., long jump) either with or without ecologically valid body displacement. In Experiment 3, infants were presented with rolling movements of inanimate objects that either complied with or violated physical causality. We found that female infants showed longer looking times to normal walking stimuli than to moonwalk stimuli, but did not differ in their looking time to movements of inanimate objects and unperformable actions. In contrast, male infants did not show sensitivity to causal movement for either category. Additionally, female infants looked longer at social stimuli of human actions than male infants. Under the tested circumstances, our findings indicate that female infants have developed a sensitivity to causal consistency between limb movements and body translations of biological motion, only for actions with previous visual and motor exposures, and demonstrate a preference toward social information.

Gender matters: The effects of gender and segmentation preferences on work‐to‐family conflict in family sacrifice climates

Despite work–family research focusing on family‐friendly climates, many employees work under a family sacrifice climate, facing employer pressure to put the demands of work before the demands of family and leading to increased work‐to‐family conflict. A family sacrifice climate enforces consistent behavioural expectations across all employees in the form of family domain boundaries being permeable to work and work domain boundaries being impermeable to family. However, employees likely experience family sacrifice climates differently. Drawing on the boundary theory and social role theory, we investigate how individual differences in gender and boundary management preferences interact to shape the relationship between perceived family sacrifice climate at work and work‐to‐family conflict in a two‐wave sample of 157 professional employees. Results show women experience more work‐to‐family conflict from perceived family sacrifice climate than men, and segmentation preferences further shape this relationship but in opposite ways for men and women. Results indicate higher segmentation preferences are associated with a stronger relationship between family sacrifice climate and work‐to‐family conflict for women but a weaker relationship for men. We discuss implications of these findings for understanding the role of organizational climate in creating gendered work–family experiences.Practitioner points Some employees are more susceptible to undesirable effects of family sacrifice climate than others. Women compared to men are more likely to experience increased work‐to‐family conflict when they perceive their workplaces to have a family sacrifice climate. In family sacrifice workplace climates, women who prefer to segment work from family demands experience the greatest amount of work‐to‐family conflict while men who also prefer to segment work from family demands experience the lowest amount of work‐to‐family conflict.

Fostering intrinsic motivation among teachers: Importance of work environment and individual differences

ABSTRACT Given the high importance of the teachers’ role in overall school improvement, there has been a strong tradition to investigate various factors affecting teachers’ motivation in developed countries. However, like other variables, the factors of intrinsic motivation may offer variance in developed and underdeveloped countries. Thus, this study investigated the importance of work environmental factors and the role of teachers’ individual differences in fostering intrinsic motivation by collecting data from 357 Pakistani secondary school teachers. Interpersonal relationships were found to be the highest source of teachers’ intrinsic motivation. The structural equation model revealed that school work environment variables: administrative support, working conditions, interpersonal relationships, promotion, colleagues’ support, and salary were significant factors in fostering teachers’ intrinsic motivation. Teachers’ individual differences in gender, academic and professional qualifications, and work experience also showed a significant role in explaining teachers’ intrinsic motivation although the extent of effect was smaller than work environmental factors. Female teachers and teachers possessing low qualifications and having work experience of 6–10 years were found more intrinsically motivated. Findings suggest that school administration ought to encourage strategies that foster teachers’ needs and expectations, particularly for mid-career teachers and those possessing higher qualifications.

Embodiment: Cultural and gender differences and associations with life satisfaction

Although cultural factors have an important impact on individuals’ experiences of living in their bodies, to date no studies have examined cross-cultural or gender differences in individuals’ experience of embodiment. This study compared Swedish and Canadian women’s experience of embodiment (and other body image related constructs), as well as Swedish men and women’s experience of embodiment. Associations between embodiment, body esteem, and life satisfaction in men and women were also examined. Participants were 302 Swedish women, 242 Swedish men, and 216 Canadian women. Results showed that Swedish women had overall more positive experience of embodiment, more positive body esteem, lower thin-ideal internalization and lower levels of disordered eating than Canadian women. In comparison to Swedish men, however, Swedish women had more negative experience of embodiment in some ways, but similar experience of embodiment in other ways. Although associations between embodiment, body esteem, and life satisfaction were strong, embodiment was a better predictor of life satisfaction than body esteem for both men and women. Results are interpreted through the lens of the developmental theory of embodiment and consider cultural differences between Sweden and Canada, as well as Swedish society’s both progress and problems in promoting gender equity.

Gut Microbiota and Gender in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Gender dimorphism in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is well known; however, the reasons for gender differences in autism are poorly understood. There are several hypotheses that might explain male prevalence in ASD, including increased levels of androgens, "extreme male brain," and a combination of elevated levels of prenatal testosterone in conjunction with prenatal stress. In this comprehensive review, differences in the gut microbiome and metabolome in humans and animals are described to explain gender differences in individuals with ASD, effects on behavior and social interactions and the impact of antibiotics, probiotics and fecal transplants. The bidirectional relationship between sex hormones and intestinal microbiota could also be relevant. Such interactions have been described in autoimmune diseases, but thus far, are not implicated in ASD. Since intestinal microbiota may affect behavior, it is possible that the prevalence of ASD in boys may be associated with more significant changes in the intestinal microbiome than in affected girls.

Influence of Self-Leadership Strategies on the Beliefs of General Self-Efficacy

The purpose of the present study was to examine the existence of the mediatory role of self-leadership strategies on the self-efficacy of people participating in physical activities, and individual differences in gender- and form of physical activity-related self-efficacy. One hundred and seventy-one undergraduate students from a Greek university participated. All participants participated in physical activities (competitive and recreational). They filled out validated Greek versions of the Revised Self-leadership Questionnaire (RSLQ) and General Self-Efficacy (GSE). Results revealed that self-leadership strategies (self-goal setting, self-reward, self-punishment and nature reward) predicted general self-efficacy, and they supported that gender affects general self-efficacy.

AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF SELF-LEADERSHIP IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY SETTINGS

The present study aimed to investigate the perceived extent of competence of self-leadership as well as the extent to which the participants exercise self-leadership strategies in physical activities (competitive and recreational). Additionally, the existence of potential individual differences in gender- and form of physical activity-related self-leadership strategies. Three hundred seventy-three undergraduate students from a Greek university (n = 197 men, and n = 176 women) with age range were between 18–24 years (M = 20.12, SD = 2.35) participated. All participants participated in physical activities. They filled out a validated Greek version of the Revised Self-leadership Questionnaire (RSLQ). Results revealed that participants reported (a) some positive self-leadership tendencies and (b) higher scores in the strategies such as self-goal setting, natural rewards and self-talk. Additionally, the findings demonstrated that self-leadership strategies may interact with gender and type of physical activity. Article visualizations:

Gender differences in individuals with suicide attempt from a general hospital setting in Bengaluru, India

Objective: Gender-related risk factors in individuals with suicide attempts vary according to the region in India. These gender-related factors have implications in determining the nature of psychiatric treatment in such individuals. This study reports on gender differences in individuals with recent suicide attempts evaluated by the Assertive Management of Attempted Suicide (AMAS) service in a general hospital setting in Bengaluru, India. Subjects and Methods: The authors extracted data pertaining to the demographic and illness details from 494 case records from January 2016 to December 2017. Results: Women were more likely to be married and homemakers, whereas men were more likely to be farmers, unemployed, and single. Women were more likely to overdose on the prescription drugs and be diagnosed with depression. Men were more significantly likely to be diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder (P

Empirical study relating macroeconomic literacy and rational thinking

We analyze macroeconomic literacy by insights from behavioral economics, while incorporating individual differences in gender, cognitive ability and academic institution. Our sample consists of economic students from two academic institutions in Israel. For statistical analysis, we used Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE). Our main finding is that high-level male students who are prone toward mental accounting have very accurate expectations of inflation, interest rate and unemployment, i.e. they are highly macroeconomic literate. Yet, we found no indication that rational thinkers are more literate than others.

Prospective Study on the Excretion of Mucous Stools and its Association with Age, Gender, and Feces Output in Captive Giant Pandas

Simple SummaryCaptive pandas may excrete mucous stools, which are often accompanied by discomfort and decreased activity. Thus, the excretion of mucous stools is a welfare concern for pandas kept in zoos. In this study, we documented the frequency of mucous excretions and the daily feces weights of 18 giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in the Beijing Zoo from April 2003 to June 2017. We also explored possible associations between the excretion of mucous stools and the pandas’ gender, age, and feces output. During the study, 900 cases of mucous excretion occurred over 32,856 observation days. The frequency of mucous excretion was negatively correlated with the feces output and positively correlated with the pandas’ age. No correlation with gender was found. Moreover, the mean frequency of mucus occurrence showed monthly changes, with one significant peak in October, and the time series analyses showed that the time (month) change imposed the strongest negative effect on fecal output, while the biggest effects on fecal output and mucus excretion both occurred in August (seasonal factors were −2.261 and 0.0126, respectively). Our findings not only add to the literature concerning pandas but are also helpful for enhancing their welfare. Further studies addressing the underlying mechanisms for the occurrence of mucus in captive pandas are needed. The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) has evolved a large number of mucous glands in the intestinal lining to adapt to the digestion of high-fiber foods. However, in captive pandas, excessive mucus might form a mass and then be eliminated, which is often accompanied by discomfort and decreased activity. This event is called ‘mucous excretion’. The causes of mucus excretions in captive pandas, however, remain unknown. The aims of this study were to document the occurrence of mucus excretion and to investigate its possible associations with pandas’ age, gender, and feces output. Eighteen giant pandas were studied at the Beijing Zoo from April 2003 to June 2017, and a total of 900 occurrences of mucous excretion and 32,856 daily defecation outputs in weight were recorded. The likelihood of mucous excretion occurrence decreased by 11.34% for each 1 kg of fecal output (Z = −4.12, p < 0.0001), while it increased by 5.89% per year of age (Z = 4.02, p < 0.0001). However, individual differences in gender had no significant effect on the mucous occurrence (Z = −0.75, p = 0.4508). A monthly change in mucus occurrence was also found. The mean frequency of mucus occurrence was significantly higher in October. In August, time (month) change showed the biggest negative influence on feces output but the biggest positive influence on mucus excretion (seasonal factors were −2.261 and 0.0126, respectively). Our results documented the occurrence of mucous excretions and confirmed their possible associations with the pandas’ age and fecal output based on a 15-year prospective study. This study not only adds to our knowledge of panda physiology but also suggests the need for further studies examining the causes of the excretion of mucous stools in captive pandas. Reducing the incidence of mucous excretion would promote ex situ conservation and enhance panda welfare.