Men May Be More Vulnerable to Stressful Life Events

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Highly stressful life events such as the death of a spouse or the loss of a job can affect the physical and psychological well-being of all adults, but a new study suggests men may be more susceptible than women.

Researchers from Finland analyzed whether these and other major life events caused anxiety and mental distress and led to smoking, alcohol use and other unhealthy behaviors in nearly 3,000 adults. At the outset, all study participants were deemed healthy because they had not taken any sick days from work in the previous year.

The researchers determined whether the adults had endured any of four major events: the death or serious illness of a family member; being a victim of physical, psychological or sexual violence; severe interpersonal conflict, such as divorce; and financial problems, via a written questionnaire. Then, they determined the number of sick days taken the following year to measure changes in health.

Among men, the death or illness of a child or spouse, financial difficulties and violence were associated with greater psychological problems, increased alcohol abuse and smoking, and more health problems. Violence and financial difficulties also triggered psychological problems such as anxiety, mental stress and a sense that things were less meaningful and manageable.

Women also suffered psychological problems and were more apt to smoke following a stressful life event. However, they were less likely than men to take sick days from work, suggesting that these types of stressful events took a lesser toll on their health.

The results of the study hint that having a social support system may provide some protection against the potential health effects of stressful life events. According to the report in the September/October issue of Psychosomatic Medicine, men who had been through a stressful event had smaller social networks than their female counterparts.

"Social support might help in coping with life events and thus provide a partial explanation for men's higher vulnerability," Dr. Mika Kivimaki from the University of Helsinki in Finland and colleagues conclude. "Our findings in men suggest that increased psychological problems and health-risk behaviors in combination may partially mediate the association between life events and illness."

SOURCE: Psychosomatic Medicine 2002;64.

Last Updated: 2002-09-24 10:00:35 -0400 (Reuters Health)