Gender differences in surgency: A study among children in Sweden

Abstract: The temperament factor of surgency has a biological basis, however it can also be influenced by the external environment. Sweden is an interesting environment to study gender differences in surgency since it is an individualistic society characterized as fostering gender equality. The study explored gender differences in surgency in 62 children (36 boys, 26 girls) at the age of 9 years old (M= 9 years, 5 months). The study took place in the southern part of Sweden and the children were tested using a caregiver report (TMCQ) and a performance task (ARB-C). Independent sample t-tests were conducted on a total of 8 variables measuring surgency. No statistically significant gender differences were found at p <.05, however some discrete tendencies for differences between boys and girls were present. The results were viewed in regards to important features in the Swedish environment that could be influencing the lack of gender differences. Due to limitations and issues of power the study does not draw any final conclusions or make generalizations, rather it stresses the need for additional work.