Age as a Moderator of Gender Differences in Five-Factor Model Personality Traits: A Cross-National and Cross-Sectional Study

This study examines how age moderates gender differences in Five-Factor Model (FFM) personality traits across cultures. Prior research suggests that women generally score higher than men on these traits, with a larger gender gap observed in personality traits in more economically developed, egalitarian, and individualistic countries. Gender differences also vary across age, yet the timing of these changes and the extent to which they are culturally universal remain unclear. Using multilevel modelling in a large cross-sectional online sample (N = 3,038,567; ages 10–65 years, 68 countries), we found that age significantly moderated gender differences in FFM personality traits, with substantial cross-national variation. The gender gap in Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Openness was wider among older adults in countries with higher levels of individualistic and self-expressive values, higher Human Development Education Index scores, and later mean ages at first marriage and childbearing for women. These findings suggest that broader educational, cultural, and family-related contexts may shape the expression of personality traits across the lifespan.