Women feel more stressed through stress than men

Study: Women more compassionate than men through stress

03/26/2014

Men and women react very differently to stress. According to a new study, women under stress show better social behavior than their male counterparts.

Men tend to rely on themselves when they are stressed
The sexes evidently react very differently to stress. While men with higher levels of stress tend to focus on themselves and look at things from their own point of view, women empathize with others. At least that suggests a study by scientists from Vienna, Freiburg and Trieste. The researchers published their findings in the journal „ScienceDirect“. Previous research has left unanswered the question of what effects stress can have on human social behavior.

Women showed a different reaction than men
In each case 40 women and men were examined in a behavioral experiment. By keeping a public presentation and solving arithmetic problems under time pressure, they were put into stress. The subjects were subsequently asked tasks that involved empathizing with others and empathizing. In these tests, women showed different reactions than men. Under stress, they were able to put their minds and emotions into other people.

Behavioral pattern is like an escape response
Men, on the other hand, showed a pattern of behavior that is more like a classic escape response. They evaluated their environment in a stressed state only from their own perspective and could feel less empathy. This opposite effect is now to be clarified by further studies. This may be due to hormonal causes. Under stress, women emit more oxytocin, a so-called feel-good and cuddly hormone, which has a strong influence on social behavior.

Other results in previous studies
Other findings on the impact of stress on men's social behavior came to scientists two years ago, who were also involved in the current study. The surprising results of the research team around Dr. Bernadette of Dawans and Professor dr. Markus Heinrichs from the University of Freiburg said that men respond to stress with positive social behavior. Dawans was quoted as saying in a press release: „Apparently men also show social rapprochement as an immediate consequence of stress.“ This behavior is with the „Tend-and-befriend concept“ explains that in stressful situations a protective („tend“) and friendships („befriend“) Behavior stops. (Sb)