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Gender & Stress. In general, women appear to be less adversely affected by stress than men. A number of possible reasons including: Lifestyle Coping strategies Biological differences. www.psychlotorn.org.uk. Lifestyle. Alcohol & tobacco Men more likely to adopt these as coping behaviours
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Gender & Stress • In general, women appear to be less adversely affected by stress than men. • A number of possible reasons including: • Lifestyle • Coping strategies • Biological differences www.psychlotorn.org.uk
Lifestyle • Alcohol & tobacco • Men more likely to adopt these as coping behaviours • Occupation • Men more likely to be in high stress occupations • NB: both of these differences are reducing and likely ultimately to disappear www.psychlotorn.org.uk
Coping • Women & men cope with stress differently: • Men – ‘fight or flight’ • Women – ‘tend & befriend’ • Women more likely to seek social support • This is an important mediator of stress effects (cf. Kiecolt-Glaser et al, 1984) www.psychlotorn.org.uk
Biology • Women and men differ in their biological responses to stress • Women secrete more oxytocin • Pituitary hormone • Involved in social and maternal responses • May protect against effects of adrenaline & cortisol www.psychlotorn.org.uk
men overlap women Gender & Stress • Gender ‘differences’ are actually trends • Misleading to think about ‘all women’ vs. ‘all men’ www.psychlotorn.org.uk