Explaining academic-track boys’ underachievement in language grades: Not a lack of aptitude but students’ motivational beliefs and parents’ perceptions?

Understanding gender inequality in children's reading behavior: New insights from digital behavioral data

This study examined gender differences in reading behavior of 2652 Danish 5th-grade students (age 10-12 years, girls 51%, 14% immigrant background) observed for 218 days in 2019/2020, using data from a popular reading app. Reading behavior was operationalized as time spent reading. Analyses of timing of reading behavior and models of day-to-day reading time were employed to investigate the gender gap in reading behavior. Results show that girls read more than boys. This differential can be attributed to girls reading more outside school hours, during weekends and holidays than boys while there are no gender differences in reading activity during school hours. Results suggest that girls with positive academic attitudes were more inclined to read than boys with similar attitudes.

Implicit gender-science stereotypes and college-major intentions of italian adolescents

Gender stereotypes are often viewed as one of the root causes of the gender gap in STEM. According to Eccles’ model, they would indirectly influence major choices by shaping expectations of success and values attached to the viable options. However, empirical findings on the link between implicit gender-science stereotypes and college major intentions are limited. To fill this gap, the current study examines this association in a mixed-gender sample of 302 Italian high-school students. Logistic regression analysis revealed that implicit gender stereotypes were directly associated with females’ intention of majoring in STEM. Unlike previous findings, the mediation analysis could not confirm that other relevant factors, i.e., interest in the subject, performance at school, identification with the subject, and value attributed to the job’s salary and social utility, moderated this association.

Is there a g-factor of genderedness? Using a continuous measure of genderedness to assess sex differences in personality, values, cognitive ability, school grades, and educational track

Some of the most persistently recurring research questions concern sex differences. Despite much progress, limited research has thus far been undertaken to investigate whether there is one general construct of genderedness that runs through various domains of human individuality. In order to determine whether being gender typical in one way goes together with being gender typical also in other ways, we investigated whether 16-year-old Finnish girls and boys ( N = 4106) differ in their personality, values, cognitive abilities, academic achievement, and educational track. To do this, we updated the prediction-focused gender diagnosticity approach by methods of cross-validation for more accurate estimation. The preregistered analysis shows that sex differences vary across domains ( Ds = 0.15–1.48), that fine-grained measures, such as grade profiles, can be accurate in predicting sex (77.5%), whereas some summary indices, such as general cognitive ability, do not perform above-chance (52.4%), and that the genderedness correlations, despite all being positive, are too weak (average partial correlation, r´ = .09, range .03–.34) to support a general factor of genderedness. Our more exploratory analyses show that more focus on gender typicality could offer important insights into the role of gender in shaping people’s lives.

The Role of Paternal Parenting and Co-parenting Quality in Children's Academic Self-Efficacy

This study explored the unique effect of fathers' parenting behaviors and the quality of co-parenting described as the degree of consistency between paternal and maternal parenting behaviors on children's academic self-efficacy. The power of both pancultural parenting behaviors (i.e., emotional warmth and rejection) and specific parenting controlling behaviors that are relatively common in Turkish culture (i.e., intrusion and guilt induction) in predicting academic self-efficacy was tested. A total of 1,931 children completed measures of parenting behaviors and academic self-efficacy in math and literature courses in their school. Overall, girls reported higher levels of literature self-efficacy, whereas boys reported higher levels of math self-efficacy. Compared to boys, girls perceived higher levels of positive parenting behaviors from both their fathers and mothers. The results of the regression analyses showed that, whereas father warmth had stronger effects on boys' math self-efficacy, mother warmth had stronger effects on girls' literature self-efficacy. Examination of the effects of co-parenting quality demonstrated that children with positively consistent parents (i.e., both parents having high positive and low negative parenting behaviors) reported the highest level of academic self-efficacy, whereas those having negatively consistent parents had the lowest level of academic self-efficacy. Analyses on inconsistent co-parenting, however, yielded compensatory effects, which were similar to positively consistent parents, and deterioration effects, which were similar to negatively consistent parents depending on the gender of parent and child, domain of parenting behavior, and academic efficacy. This study contributed to the current literature by showing the unique role of fathers over and beyond mothers, and confirmed the importance of positive parenting and parenting consistency in promoting children's academic efficacy. Cultural and practical implications of the findings were discussed.

Students’ motivation in biology lessons—can student autonomy reduce the gender gap?

When it comes to biology lessons in Germany, girls generally exhibit higher levels of self-determined motivation than boys. Previous research suggests that fostering student autonomy could be a way to effectively address this gender gap. To investigate gender-related effects in biology education, a sample of 303 sixth-grade students (Mage = 11.31 years, SDage = 0.58 years) participated in a 3-h teaching unit on harvest mice that was taught in either an autonomy-supportive or controlling manner. The results revealed a significant effect of the treatment on self-determined motivation, with the effect being stronger for the boys. In the treatment with controlling teaching behavior, gender-related differences in self-determined motivation became apparent. In contrast, the gender gap was mainly smaller in the treatment with autonomy-supportive teaching behavior. Thus, the results suggest that satisfying the need for autonomy appears to be an effective means to help bridge the gender gap in biology lessons.

Gender Gap in Healthcare Worker—Patient Communication during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Italian Observational Study

The value of the healthcare worker–patient communication has been well demonstrated and validated in several studies evidencing its relation to positive patient health outcomes, including better care response, simpler decision-making, better patient psychological well-being, and, therefore, considerable patient care satisfaction. The present study purposed to assess how patients perceived healthcare worker–patient communication during the COVID-19 pandemic and whether there were any gender-related differences among participants. From March 2020 to April 2020, an online questionnaire was administered to those who declared a patient’s condition in this period. The data considered included data on gender and a Quality of Communication questionnaire (QOC). A total of 120 patients were recruited online. Of these, 52 (43.33%) were females and 68 (56.67%) were males. Significant differences were recorded between females and males in the QOC questionnaire as regards Item no.2 (p = 0.033), Item no.6 (p = 0.007), Item no.11 (p = 0.013), Item no.12 (p = 0.003), Item no.13 (p = 0.002), Item no.15 (p = 0.008), and Item no.16 (p = 0.037), respectively. The potentially different elements between the two sexes considered were assessed in: Component 1: the need to be completely informed about their own health condition, and Component 2: the need to receive authentic and sincere communication from the healthcare worker involved. In light of the present findings, it has emerged that male patients seemed to be more active and positive in effective healthcare worker–patient communication.

The role of preservice teachers’ implicit attitudes and causal attributions: a deeper look into students’ ethnicity

Previous research has provided evidence that teachers implicitly hold more negative attitudes toward ethnic minority students than toward ethnic majority students. Furthermore, they attribute the lower educational success of ethnic minority students predominantly to internal causes. So far, it is not known how implicit attitudes and causal attributions are related to preservice teachers’ judgments of students’ academic competencies. We conducted a study to close this research gap. In a sample of preservice teachers, our study showed mainly negative implicit attitudes toward ethnic minority students. On general, the preservice teachers made external attributions. Implicit attitudes as well as causal attributions predicted the judgments. Preservice teachers with more negative attitudes and preservice teachers, who attributed the failure of ethnic minority students to these students’ abilities, less favorably judged the competence of ethnic minority students. Our results highlight the role of teachers’ attitudes and causal attributions in determining the disadvantages that ethnic minority students experience in school.

Maternal Judgments of Child Numeracy and Reading Ability Predict Gains in Academic Achievement and Interest

In a representative longitudinal sample of 2,602 Australian children (52% boys; 2% Indigenous; 13% language other than English background; 22% of Mothers born overseas; and 65% Urban) and their mothers (first surveyed in 2003), this article examined if maternal judgments of numeracy and reading ability varied by child demographics and influenced achievement and interest gains. We linked survey data to administrative data of national standardized tests in Year 3, 5, and 7 and found that maternal judgments followed gender stereotype patterns, favoring girls in reading and boys in numeracy. Maternal judgments were more positive for children from non-English speaking backgrounds. Maternal judgments predicted gains in children's achievement (consistently) and academic interest (generally) including during the transition to high school.

Only a Burden for Females in Math? Gender and Domain Differences in the Relation Between Adolescents' Fixed Mindsets and Motivation

Gendered occupational and educational choices have often been traced back to gender differences in students’ domain-specific ability self-concept and intrinsic motivation. This study explored the role of believing in an “innate” math or language arts ability (i.e., having a fixed mindset) for gender differences in students’ ability self-concept and intrinsic motivation in 423 female (49%) and 447 male (51%) tenth graders from Germany (age M = 16.09 years, SD = 0.68, range: 14–18 years). In line with math-male stereotypes, believing in “innate” math ability was associated with lower ability self-concept and intrinsic motivation in female but not male students. In language arts, students’ mindsets were unrelated to their motivation. The results suggest that a fixed mindset presents an additional burden for female students in math, but not for male or female students in language arts.

Is reading a feminine domain? The role of gender identity and stereotypes in reading motivation in Chile

In Chile, as in other countries, there are large gender gaps in reading achievement. One factor that may explain some of these results is male and female students’ motivation towards reading and books. The present study examined gender-related factors that contribute to explain students’ reading motivation. One hundred and fifteen Chilean secondary students completed measures of reading motivation, gender identity and reading gender stereotypes. A multivariate analysis of variance showed that after controlling for language arts achievement, female students exhibited higher levels of reading motivation, in both dimensions: self-concept and value. Paired samples t-tests showed that all participants, male and female, viewed reading as a more feminine endeavor, revealing reading gender stereotypes. A multiple regression analysis showed that reading gender stereotypes explained significant variance in students’ reading self-concept. Expressive identity traits (stereotypically feminine) as well as self-reported sexism both explained significant variance in the value that students associated with reading. The study offers empirical evidence about a relevant but understudied topic, especially in this region. These findings may contribute to the promotion of equal literacy development opportunities for students of both sexes in Latin America.

When Gender Stereotypes Get Male Adolescents into Trouble: A Longitudinal Study on Gender Conformity Pressure as a Predictor of School Misconduct

School misconduct is a threat to educational careers and learning. The present study sheds light on why male adolescents in particular are prone to school misconduct. Qualitative research has argued that male adolescents’ construction of masculinity is a factor driving their school misbehavior. We examined the role of felt pressure to conform to gender stereotypes in predicting school misconduct among male and female adolescents. Data were provided by a three-wave panel study encompassing more than 4200 Flemish early adolescents (ages 12–14). Three-level growth curve models showed that male adolescents misbehaved more in school than female adolescents did. Male adolescents also demonstrated a steeper increase in school misconduct than female adolescents. Furthermore, greater felt gender conformity pressure predicted an increase in school misconduct in male adolescents but not in female adolescents. We conclude that school misconduct forms part of an enactment of masculine gender identity with detrimental consequences for male adolescents’ educational achievement.

Differences in Personal, Familial, Social, and School Factors Between Underachieving and Non-underachieving Gifted Secondary Students

Using various identification methods, differences between underachieving and non-underachieving gifted students in personal, familial, social, and school variables were analyzed in a sample of 164 gifted students with IQs of 120 or higher; the sample was drawn from a larger sample of 1,400 compulsory secondary education students. Three procedures for identifying underachieving students were used: the standardized difference method, the regression method, and the Rasch method. The different profiles of underachieving and non-underachieving students in the personal, familial, social, and school variables were compared using MANOVA and ANOVA tests. Results revealed that underachieving gifted students scored significantly lower in learning strategies, goal orientations, self-concept, attitudes toward teachers, and perceived parent involvement in school variables. These results have clear educational implications as a result of identifying differences in non-cognitive factors.

Why don’t “real men” learn languages? Masculinity threat and gender ideology suppress men’s language learning motivation

Large gender disparities in participation still exist across many university subjects and career fields, but few studies have examined factors that account for gender gaps in female-dominated disciplines. We examine one possible cause: threatened masculinity among men who hold traditional gender ideologies. Past research has linked endorsement of traditional gender ideologies to gender-stereotypical occupational choices, and threats to masculinity can lead men to distance themselves from femininity. After confirming that 1,672 undergraduates stereotyped language learning as feminine, we applied a masculinity threat manipulation to investigate 182 men’s disinterest in studying foreign languages, a female-dominated university subject. Men with traditional masculinity ideologies reported less interest in foreign language study and less positive attitudes towards foreign languages following masculinity threat, compared to men whose masculinity was affirmed or who held less traditional masculinity beliefs. Traditional masculine gender roles may lead some men to avoid feminine-typed domains, such as foreign language learning.

Warum schätzen Mädchen ihre mathematischen Kompetenzen geringer ein als Jungen?

Zusammenfassung. Trotz sehr geringer Leistungsunterschiede in objektiven Leistungstests schätzen Mädchen ihre mathematischen Kompetenzen bereits im Grundschulalter geringer ein als Jungen. Basierend auf dem Erwartungs-Wert-Modell ( Eccles & Wigfield, 2002 ) wird überprüft, inwieweit Geschlechtsunterschiede im mathematischen Fähigkeitsselbstkonzept durch Eltern- und Lehrereinschätzungen der mathematischen Kompetenzen der Kinder sowie unterschiedliche Leistungsindikatoren erklärt werden können. Es wurden Selbst-‍, Eltern- und Lehrereinschätzungen der mathematischen Kompetenzen von N = 837 Kindern der vierten Klasse sowie deren Noten und objektive Leistungen in Mathematik erfasst. Jungen gaben ein höheres Fähigkeitsselbstkonzept an als Mädchen. Objektive Mathematikleistungen mediierten den Zusammenhang nicht, Mathematiknoten sowie Eltern- und Lehrereinschätzungen hingegen teilweise. Die Ergebnisse werden vor dem Hintergrund der Rolle wichtiger Sozialisationspersonen und anderer potentieller Faktoren für die Entwicklung des mathematischen Fähigkeitsselbstkonzepts im Grundschulalter diskutiert.

Individuelle Entwicklungsverläufe beim Lesen

Zusammenfassung. Es ist ein vielfach replizierter Befund, dass Jungen im Durchschnitt über geringere Lesekompetenzen verfügen als Mädchen. Bezogen auf die Entwicklung von Leseleistungen stellt sich allerdings die Frage, ob und wie Unterschiede zwischen den Geschlechtern im Laufe der Sekundarstufe zunehmen, abnehmen oder eher stabil bleiben. Vor allem aus dem englischsprachigen Raum liegen Hinweise dafür vor, dass eine Zunahme der Leistungsunterschiede zwischen Jungen und Mädchen auf Schülerinnen und Schülern mit niedrigem sozioökonomischen Status zurückgeht. Auch der Migrationsstatus und die besuchte Schulform werden als Moderatoren diskutiert. In der vorliegenden Studie wurde den genannten Fragestellungen mit Daten von 2.505 Schülerinnen und Schülern aus Baden-Württemberg nachgegangen. Auf Basis von Daten von vier Testzeitpunkten (5. – 8. Schuljahresstufe) wurden latente Wachstumskurvenmodelle für die Kompetenzbereiche Lesegeschwindigkeit und -verständnis modelliert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass ein Schereneffekt zu Ungunsten der Jungen sowohl in der Lesegeschwindigkeit als auch im Leseverständnis auftrat. Für den sozioökonomischen Status und den Migrationsstatus zeigten sich hingegen keine Schereneffekte der Leseleistungen. Des Weiteren ergaben die Analysen, dass der geschlechterbezogene Schereneffekt nicht durch den sozioökonomischen Status oder den Migrationshintergrund moderiert wird. Die besuchte Schulform stellte sich nicht als bedeutsamer Moderator heraus.