Gender differences among adults with schizophrenia may vary depending on age, according to a recent study. In addition, gender differences on negative symptoms may vary by symptom subgroup. Community-dwelling adults (n=242, aged 40-85) with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder completed assessments of negative symptoms (expressive and experiential deficits), neurocognition, and social skills. Mann-Whitney U tests examined gender differences; a regression-based bootstrapped approach to moderation examined gender by age interactions. Researchers found:

• Female participants had better neurocognition (U= 6,814.00) and less severe experiential deficits (U=4,130.50).
• There was no gender difference on social skills (U=5,920.50).
• Older age was associated with greater expressive deficits among men but not women (b= -.04).