Intelligence, Family Background, and Gender as Drivers of Socioeconomic Success: Exploring the Case of Germany

• In Event: 18.051 - Nonacademic Factors and School Success

Abstract

We investigated the relationships of childhood intelligence (ChI), parental socioeconomic background (PSB), and gender with multiple indicators of adult socioeconomic success (education, socioeconomic status, and income). We placed a special focus on education, which served as both an indicator and a mediator of socioeconomic success. We drew on a random sample of N=5158 participants in a German longitudinal study from childhood to adulthood. ChI was the more powerful predictor of socioeconomic success compared to PSB. However, education was most closely associated with both socioeconomic status and income. Furthermore, education mediated most of the effects of ChI and PSB, although some direct effects remained. Gender differences were found with men reporting higher income. Gender differences were not mediated by education.

Authors

• Michael Becker, German Institute for International Educational Research

• Jurgen Baumert, Max Planck Institute for Human Development

• Julia Tetzner, German Institute for International Educational Research

• Kai Maaz

• Olaf Koeller, Leibniz Institute for Science and Math Education