72 Chapter 4: Stress Management and Sleep Signs of the exhaustion stage include: Physiological Signs and Symptoms: Psychological Signs and Symptoms: • Hypertension • Elevated cholesterol • Atherosclerosis • Heart disease • Stroke • Irritability • Depression • Anxiety • Paranoia Male vs. Female Response to Stress Research shows that males respond to stress differently, and more aggressively, than females do. Interestingly, the difference in the stress response between genders may be a result of a particular gene that males have but females do not: the sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene. The SRY gene is located on the Y chromosome, which directs male development, may promote aggression and the fight-or-flight response to stress. Additionally, since females do not have the SRY gene, their responses to stresses are different and generally less aggressive. (Lee & Harley, 2012). Research conducted by Dasgupta (2018) suggests gender differences to stress are necessary as the fight-or-flight response is not appropriate for females with offspring. Dasgupta argues that as the primary caregiver, it is not appropriate for females to leave their offspring. Instead, women tend to form close bonds with other females so that during times of stress they can help each other. This approach to stress is referred to as the tend-and-befriend response. According to Taylor et al. (2000), hormonal differences between males and females also contribute to variations in the response to stress. For example, oxytocin (a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland as part of the stress response), promotes nurturing and social contact and is enhanced by the hormone estrogen. The interaction between oxytocin and estrogen may contribute to the tend-and-befriend stress response in females while simultaneously inhibiting the fight-or-flight response. Conversely, the hormone testosterone inhibits the release of oxytocin. The inhibition of oxytocin by testosterone may in turn contribute to the fight-or-flight response, while simultaneously preventing the tend-and befriend response, in males (Taylor et al., 2000). The American Psychological Association (n.d.) has reported other differences between males and females with dealing with stress. For example, males tend to be more reluctant to believe that stress is having an impact on their health and thus place less emphasis on the need to manage their stress than females do. Additionally, males are less likely to see psychologists and make lifestyle and/or behavior changes. As a result, males tend to be at a slightly higher risk for emotional and physiological disorders associated with high stress levels and unhealthy lifestyles and behaviors.
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