Normative Data for the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test in an Educated Adult Egyptian Sample Across the Lifespan

Background: Theory of Mind (ToM), a critical aspect of social cognition, enables individuals to infer others' emotions, beliefs, and intentions. The Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) is a widely used tool for assessing ToM, particularly affective components. Despite its utility, challenges have arisen in the applicability of the Arabic RMET version in the Egyptian context. Aim: To establish normative data for a culturally adapted Arabic version of RMET in a healthy Egyptian adult sample across the lifespan. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 236 healthy Egyptian adults (aged >20 years) was conducted. Participants were screened for cognitive and mood disorders using the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Patient Health Questionnaire-2, respectively. RMET performance was assessed, and data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics to account for demographic factors, including age and gender. Results: The mean RMET score was 22.69 (SD = 3.72), with scores ranging from 9 to 31. Performance distribution was symmetric, supporting its suitability for standardisation. Age significantly influenced performance on selected items, with participants aged 40-60 years achieving higher mean scores than those aged 60 years and older (P = 0.049). Gender and educational status did not significantly impact scores. Conclusions: This study provides normative data for the Arabic RMET in an Egyptian population, highlighting its validity and reliability for assessing social cognition. Future studies should explore its diagnostic potential in neurocognitive disorders.