The Flynn effect, a phenomenon observed throughout the 20th century, revealed a consistent increase in standardized intelligence test scores in several countries. Flynn (1987) documented an average increase of 15 points in global IQ between 1950 and 1987. However, recent research has pointed to a reversal of this trend, with a decline in IQ scores, a phenomenon called the Negative Flynn Effect or Anti-IQ Effect. Flynn.
Several factors, both environmental and genetic, have been proposed to explain this decline. Changes in educational values, school systems, family education, nutrition and health, in addition to migratory factors, are some of the elements that may be contributing to this change (Bratsberg & Rogeberg, 2018).
A recent study conducted by Bal-Sezerel et al. (2023) investigated changes in the general intelligence, verbal intelligence and non-verbal intelligence scores of first-year elementary school students over six years (2016-2021). The study results confirmed the existence of the Anti-Flynn Effect, demonstrating a downward trend in IQ scores over time, with a particularly sharp decline between 2020 and 2021.
One possible explanation for this sharp drop in IQ scores between 2020 and 2021 is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Social isolation measures and school closures may have negatively affected children’s mental health and cognitive development, resulting in lower performance on intelligence tests.
Another relevant result of the study by Bal-Sezerel et al. (2023) is the gender difference in the Anti-Flynn Effect. The study revealed that the decline in IQ scores was more pronounced in girls than in boys, suggesting that the pandemic may have had a more severe impact on girls’ mental health and cognitive development.
Reference: Bal-Sezerel, B., Ateşgöz, N.N., & Kirişçi, N. (2023). Intelligence differences across years: A trend analysis. Kuramsal Eğitimbilim Dergisi [Journal of Theoretical Educational Science], 16(1), 107-126.
