Posted on 10/05/2002 6:14:15 AM PDT by vannrox
RealAge HealthBytes |
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)
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THE REPUBLICANS TOOK BACK THE SENATE.
This one's easy -- women know someone will come along to take care of them. Men know they're out there on their own.
Yes, I'm female. No, I'm not stupid.
No matter how hard feminists try, little boys learn to take charge, little girls learn to follow. Little boys are more likely to get their way by shear force of will, little girls appeal to a higher authority -- parent, teacher, older sibling. Little boys do not complain to a higher authority because they don't want to appear weak. Little girls learn they don't have to fight their own fights.
It's genetic.
So when something devastating happens to a woman, she knows from past experience someone, somewhere, will help her. If no one appears, she goes out and finds a caretaker (how many battered men's shelters are there, hmmmmm?)
On the other hand, men have known from day one that they are the strong ones and have to take care of things. When "things" get overwhelming, just what are they supposed to do? Go on Oprah?
So it's up to women to support them, whether they ask for help or not. That's our job, and it's about time we started doing it.
/rant
I try to read my husband's mind (gets easier the longer we're married) and guess what the problem is. Then I ply him with alcohol and tortilla chips until he talks.
He usually doesn't tell me if I guessed right, but it puts him in a better mood. And we both like tortilla chips.
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