Do men and women respond to stress differently?

Yes, men and women tend to respond to stress differently, both in terms of their physiological and behavioral responses. These gender differences are influenced by a combination of biological, hormonal, and societal factors.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), here are some of the key differences between women and men:

• Perception of stress impact: About 88% of women and 78% of men believe that stress has a very strong or strong impact on a person’s health.
• Importance of managing stress: 68% of women and only 52% of men consider managing stress very/extremely important.
• Expressing concern: 25% of women and 17% of men acknowledge that they’re not doing enough when it comes to managing stress.
• Action to reduce stress: Approximately 70% of women and about 50% of men report trying to reduce stress over the past 5 years.
• Stress management strategies: Women use various stress management strategies, including reading (51%), spending time with family or friends (44%), praying (41%), attending religious services (24%), shopping (18%), getting a massage or visiting a spa (14%), and seeing a mental health professional (5%). Men are more inclined to use playing sports as a stress management technique (14%).
• Belief in professional help: Women have a strong belief in the effectiveness of psychologists in helping with lifestyle and behavior changes and coping with chronic illnesses, while men have a weaker belief in their effectiveness.