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Gender, resources across the life course, and cognitive functioning in Egypt

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Demography

Abstract

In this article, I evaluate the life-course determinants of cognitive functioning among 1,003 women and men aged 50 and older in Ismailia, Egypt. Three questions motivate this analysis: (1) Do older women have poorer cognitive functioning than do older men?; (2) Do cognitive resources accrued in childhood and adulthood have net positive associations with later-life cognitive functioning for women and men?; and (3) To what extent do differences in the amounts and effects of women’s and men’s cognitive resources account for gaps in their cognitive functioning? Compared with men, women have lower Modified-Mini Mental Status Exam (M-MMSE) scores for overall cognitive functioning. Cognitive resources in childhood and adulthood are jointly associated with the M-MMSE score. About 83% of the gender gap in mean M-MMSE scores is attributable to gaps in men’s and women’s attributes across the life course. Gender gaps in childhood cognitive resources—and especially schooling attainment—account for the largest share (18%) of the residual gender gap in cognitive functioning.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hubert Department of Global Health and Department of Sociology, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Room 724, 30322, Atlanta, GA

    Kathryn M. Yount

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This research was supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging (1 R03-AG021707-01; PI: Kathryn M. Yount), the Social Research Center, American University in Cairo (Co-Investigator: Zeinab Khadr), and the University Research Committee at Emory University. Assistance from Drs. Emily Agree and Aryeh Stein in designing the study, and from Dr. Hoda Rashad in its execution, are valued. Dr. Nadia El-Afify’s role in training staff to conduct the in-home tests of physical performance also is appreciated. Dr. Yount also wishes to thank Gender Economics for Research and Policy Analysis (GERPA) for their support in this research.

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Yount, K.M. Gender, resources across the life course, and cognitive functioning in Egypt. Demography 45, 907–926 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1353/dem.0.0034

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