New CerebrumIQ data suggests that higher intelligence may come at a cost, particularly in the form of social and relational stress.
A recent survey of 4,738 adults who completed a CerebrumIQ assessment reveals that individuals with higher IQ scores are more likely to experience interpersonal difficulties. According to CerebrumIQ’s analysis, 62% of respondents with IQs of 130 or above reported that their intelligence had made close relationships more difficult. By comparison, only 37% of individuals in the 100 to 115 IQ band, defined as average, reported similar experiences.
The dataset skews young: 68% of respondents were between 18 and 36 years old. CerebrumIQ defined its cohorts as follows: 130+ (high IQ), 116-129 (above average), and 100-115 (average). Reported differences between groups held consistently across gender and employment status.
The impact of cognitive disparity was especially visible in social dynamics. 54% of respondents with IQs of 130+ reported frequent feelings of social isolation, versus 23% in the average group. When asked about emotional support networks, 46% of the high-IQ group said they had fewer than two close friends, compared with 19% among average scorers.
Romantic and family relationships also showed distinct pressure points. Nearly half (48%) of high-IQ respondents said they had difficulty finding intellectually compatible partners, and 39% linked this to shorter or more conflictual relationships. The corresponding figures in the average IQ group were 22% and 18%, respectively.
Mental health indicators, while self-reported and not clinically verified, revealed a strong pattern: 41% of the 130+ group cited frequent anxiety or depressive symptoms related to social stress. For the 100-115 cohort, the figure was 25%. Similarly, work-life balance issues appeared to correlate with IQ. 58% of high-IQ individuals said professional or academic obligations regularly displaced social time, compared with 33% of those in the average range.
According to CerebrumIQ PR Manager Amelia Botha, these disparities reflect what the company calls "social mismatch and cognitive intensity", a dynamic in which elevated reasoning skills and divergent communication styles strain normative relational expectations. "The data suggest that intellectual advantage does not inherently confer emotional ease," she said. "Rather, higher aptitude may introduce subtle but significant challenges in navigating human connection."
These findings carry relevance for educators, employers, and mental-health professionals. Support systems designed solely around achievement metrics may overlook individuals silently struggling with relational and emotional burdens tied to intelligence.
About CerebrumIQ:
CerebrumIQ is a cognitive performance platform designed to strengthen mental skills through a blend of IQ testing, neural training games, intelligence puzzles, educational courses, and expert content. The assessments are calibrated to reflect standard IQ tests and used globally to track and enhance users’ thinking abilities. The platform, used by over a million people worldwide, offers more than 300 lessons on emotional intelligence, problem-solving, innovation, confidence-building, and decision-making, helping users develop essential life skills in a structured, engaging way. CerebrumIQ is redefining how people engage with their mental potential. Unlike entertainment-style brain games, Cerebrum IQ is a structured training ecosystem built to deliver lasting neural growth.
CerebrumIQ is a cognitive performance platform designed to strengthen mental skills through a blend of IQ testing, neural training games, intelligence puzzles, educational courses, and expert content. The assessments are calibrated to reflect standard IQ tests and used globally to track and enhance users’ thinking abilities. The platform, used by over a million people worldwide, offers more than 300 lessons on emotional intelligence, problem-solving, innovation, confidence-building, and decision-making, helping users develop essential life skills in a structured, engaging way. CerebrumIQ is redefining how people engage with their mental potential. Unlike entertainment-style brain games, Cerebrum IQ is a structured training ecosystem built to deliver lasting neural growth.