Age differences in women’s tendency to gossip are mediated by their mate value

In the current study it was investigated whether age differences in women’s tendency to gossip exist, and whether these could be accounted for by self-reported mate value. It was expected that younger women would report a higher tendency to gossip after reading a scenario in which a romantic rival was introduced, because they are at an age when competition for mates is salient and often intense. Moreover, it was hypothesized that this higher tendency to gossip would be attributable to these women’s higher mate value, since younger women have a higher reproductive capacity than older women. The results confirm these expectations: age differences in women’s tendency to gossip disappeared when controlling for mate value. Discussion focuses on the interpretation and implications of these results.

► We investigated gossiping tendencies among younger and older women. ► Younger women gossip more than older women. ► Younger women have a higher mate value than older women. ► Women with a high mate value gossip more than women with a low mate value. ► Thus, mate value mediates age differences in the tendency to gossip.