Education Narrows Gender Disparities in Cognitive Function in China: Evidence From a Cross-Cohort Comparison Study

ObjectivesThis study examines how education has shaped gender disparities in cognitive function across birth cohorts in China, where gender equality in education has substantially improved.MethodUsing longitudinal data from individuals aged 55+ in the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1997-2015), we first applied within-between random effects models to assess whether gender disparities in cognitive function at the sample's mean age of 65.5 varied across birth cohorts. We then conducted a moderated mediation analysis to examine whether education mediated the cohort-cognition association differently by gender, thereby narrowing gender disparities in cognitive function across cohorts.ResultsIncreases in education years across cohorts were greater among women, and education years had a stronger positive association with cognitive function in women, contributing to reduced gender disparities in younger cohorts.DiscussionFindings underscore education's role in narrowing gender disparities in cognitive function. Future research should explore why men benefited less cognitively from education.