Elusive Sources for Gender Differences in Spatial Ability: The Role of Personality, Spatial Interests, and Everyday Behaviours

Psychology in Russia: State of the Art. 2025. Vol. 18. No. 1. P. 35–59.

Elina S. Tsigeman, Ksenia V. Bartseva, Evgeniia A. Alenina, Soldatova E., Yulia V. Kovas, Maxim V. Likhanov

Background. A! er decades of research, gender di" erences in spatial abilities (SA) remain poorly understood. Among factors that may contribute to these di" erences are self-perceived SA, inclinations, everyday behaviour and interests in SA-related activities, and related personality characteristics. In order to understand these links, a multifactorial approach is needed. Objective. # is study explored the relationships among SA, spatial interests, and personality among adolescent boys and girls. Design. # e study recruited 660 participants (mean age = 15.04, SD = 1.08; 48% females) from public schools. Participants contributed data on a battery of SA tests; 8 personality traits: Big Five and Dark Triad; as well as SA-related activities: spatial interests and school commute information (mode and time) as a proxy for everyday spatial behaviour. Results. Weak-to-moderate mean gender di" erences were observed: males scored higher on spatial ability, spatial interests, machiavellianism, and psychopathy; and females on agreeableness, openness to experience, and neuroticism. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed some gender di" erences in associations among personality traits and SA. In males, openness to experience and conscientiousness were signi$ cantly related to SA test performance. In females, openness to experience, extraversion, agreeableness, and machiavellianism contributed to SA performance. Although spatially-related interests were linked to SA, they were not signi$ cantly predicted by personality traits. Everyday spatial behaviour showed no relationship with personality traits or SA.

Keywords: personality, Big Five, Dark Triad, spatial ability, spatial interest