What Are The Physical Effects Of Stress On Women

The physical effects of stress on women are seemingly different from those observed in men. Women handle stress in a very unique way as compared to men. 

While most of us are familiar with the “flight or fight” theory when confronted with stress, there is a new theory that caters to just women.

A study that was published in the Psychological Review in year 2000 reviewed that women tend to adopt a “Tend and Befriend” approach in response to stress. “Tending involves nurturant activities designed to protect the self and offspring that promote safety and reduce distress while befriending is the creation and maintenance of social networks that may aid in this process". In other words, when women get stressed, they either nurture those around them or they will try to reach out to others. This behavior has been reported in some studies that have shown that women tend to be more nurturing and caring toward their children or friends when they are most stressed. They tend to get together over a cup of tea or coffee and chatting over their problems as a way to relieve stress.  However, such a behavior is not commonly seen in men who would prefer to bottle up and seek more solitary activities instead rather than sharing with friends.

The difference observed in this behavioral change towards stress between women and men is not quite clear but it is believed that a hormone called Oxytocin plays a large role. In contrast to cortisol, the stress hormone that may affects health in a negative way by increasing the heart rate and blood flow causing a person to feel “tense”, Oxytocin on the other hand has a calming effect on a person instead. Oxytocin is also the same hormone released during childbirth in women. It is this hormone that is believed to help women cope with stress better than men. The calming effect of Oxytocin is further enhanced by another hormone estrogen found in higher level in women than in men. On the other hand, testosterone, which is found in higher level in men, tends to block the calming effect of oxytocin. As a result, we see calmness, a more sociable behavior in women while men will appear hostile, withdraw and angry when stressed. Though not proven, it is also believed that Oxytocin’s effect towards stress is the reason why women live longer than men!

Other than the difference in behavior towards stress, other physical effects of stress on women that affects health is somehow similar to men. Stress induced illnesses seen in women include high blood pressure, heart problem, diabetes, weight gain or loss due to a loss of appetite or excessive eating due to stress, back and neck stiffness or pain, joint pains or gastro-intestinal problems like diarrhea, gastritis and so on. Other physical effects of stress seen in women also include a disturbance of the menstrual cycle causing abdominal cramps and excessive, heavy flows or even irregular periods have been reported.

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