The age old question: who experiences more stress, men or women? Now, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have a deeper understanding of gender specific stress response.

Sixteen men and women were placed in fMRI machines to have their brains scanned while asked to perform a mental subtraction task. An fMRI, or functional magnetic resonance imaging machine, is a cutting-edge medical device that is used to observe biological and chemical changes inside the body, in real-time. During the task, participants were asked to count backwards by 13, starting at a large number. This triggered a moderate stress response and allowed researchers to observe changes in their body and brains.

Monitoring blood flow to different parts of the brain and the release of cortisol, a well studied stress hormone, researchers concluded that there were clear differences between the stress response of men and women.

Men showed a classical ‘fight of flight’ response, identified by an increased blood flow to their prefrontal cortex, the area close to the forehead. Such a reaction triggers the adrenal glands, dumping adrenaline and cortisol into the bloodstream. This increases heart rate, blood pressure and breathing. Such changes assist us in taking rapid action when there is a perceived threat in the environment, but can be detrimental to our health when the response is prolonged or repeated frequently.

Women showed a higher blood flow to the emotional center of the brain, the deeply embedded limbic system. This part of the brain can produce emotions such as fear. Tests showed that the effects of stress appear to last longer in the brains of women than in men.

The research shows clear evidence that men and women respond to stress differently. This indicates that treatment for stress should be more gender specific. Men typically have a more physical response, and women,  a stronger emotional reaction. Counseling and clinical psychologists could use this information to create better tailored therapies. Health psychologists could also use this knowledge to promote awareness of the symptoms of stress and how they differ with each gender.