Women are the real puzzle fanatics

Researchers have found that women are, in fact, four times more likely than men to admit to being compulsive puzzle players obsessed only with winning. On the other hand, more men than women said their motivation for completing puzzles was to keep themselves intellectually sharp.

The researchers questioned 598 people, with equal numbers of men and women, on their puzzle habits. Forty-one per cent described themselves as “Challenger” players who completed puzzles to keep themselves mentally active and exercise their brains.

More than 15 per cent described themselves as “Intuitive” players who were naturally talented at puzzles and whose only goal was to complete them. Fourteen per cent confessed to being “Secret” puzzlers who played on the quiet.

Just 7 per cent would admit to being “Compulsive” players who described themselves as having a deeply competitive streak and being obsessed with winning. Of those, 81 per cent were female, implying that women are more likely to mean business when it comes to puzzle-playing.