Gender Differences In Distress Research Articles

Gender, psychological distress, and subjective well-being two years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain.

This study aimed to examine gender differences in distress and well-being two years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, analyzing risk and protective factors for psychological distress and subjective well-being. It is a repeated cross-sectional study with a sample of 1,588 women (50%) and men (50%) from the general Spanish population aged 18-74 years who were assessed online by seven questionnaires and scales. Descriptive, variance, and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed. From February to April 2022, 57.4% of women and 38.7% of men had psychological distress, percentages that totaled 50.5% and 41.5%, respectively, from October 2022 to February 2023. Women also had greater perceived vulnerability to diseases, more negative feelings, and lower affect balance, resilience, and self-esteem than men. The most important predictors of greater psychological distress refer to lower self-esteem, resilience, and social support and higher perceived vulnerability to diseases. Other statistically significant predictors included lower educational level in women and neither being married nor living with a partner in men. Lower self-esteem also best predicted lower subjective well-being, with lower social support and lower resilience also constituting significant predictors. Moreover, lower educational level and higher perceived vulnerability to diseases statistically and significantly predicted lower subjective well-being in women, as did not being a student in men. We conclude that psychological distress remains greatly prevalent in Spain two years after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in women.

Validation of the Arabic Version of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) among college students in Kuwait

IntroductionThe Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) is a psychometrically robust measure of psychological distress for adult populations, the most commonly used screening measure in the general population. It is used in epidemiological surveys globally, including the World Health Organization and World Mental Health Survey. Recently, there has been a research interest in examining the psychometric properties of the K6 in college students’ populations.ObjectivesTo examine the reliability, validity and factor structure of the Arabic adaptation K6 in Kuwaiti college students.MethodsThe participants were 1402 individuals (509 males, 893 females) Kuwait University undergraduates, aged 18–35 years-old mean age = 21.50 ± 4.87. The Arabic versions of The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6), The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales DASS-42, Beck Depression Inventory-II, and Beck Anxiety Inventory –BAI were administered to participants including demographics. The internal consistency reliability, factor structure, and convergent validity of the (K6) with DASS-42, BDI-II, & BAI were computed.ResultsInternal consistency was satisfactory for the K6 (Cronbach’s alpha =0.80 for males & 0.79 for females). The results revealed significant gender differences in distress with a favor for females (f=8.95, p. >.003). Principal component analyses (PCA) showed that a K6 one -component solution explains %61.51 of the total variance for males and %57.23 for females. The k6 correlates with DASS Stress (r=.76), DASS Depression (r=.57), DASS Anxiety (r=0.76), BAI (r=.73) and BDI-II (r=46).ConclusionsThe K6 provides satisfactory validation, and can be recommended as a measure of distress among Arab college students.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

The relationship between coping and distress among faculty members and students during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: The moderating effect of gender.

Previous research has documented significant associations between the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, various mental health problems, and coping strategies. However, literature on the moderating role of gender on the relationship between distress and coping strategies during COVID-19 is almost nonexistent. Hence, the main objective of this study was two folds. To examine gender differences in distress and coping strategies, and to test the moderating effect of gender on the relationship between distress and coping among university faculty members and students during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional web-based study design was used to collect data from the participants. A sample of 649 participants (68.9% university students and 31.1% faculty members) was selected. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) were used to collect data from the participants. The survey was sent out during the COVID-19 lockdown from May 12th to June 30th, 2020. The results showed significant gender differences in distress and the three coping strategies. Women consistently scored higher on distress (p < 0.01), task-focused (p < 0.05), emotion-focused (p < 0.001), and avoidance coping (p < 0.01) compared to men. Gender moderated the relationship between emotion-focused coping and distress (p < 0.001) but not the relationship between distress and task-focused or avoidance coping. Increased emotion-focused coping is associated with decreased distress among women while the use of emotion-focused coping by men predicted more distress. Workshops and programs focused on providing skills and techniques on how to cope with stressful situations induced by the COVID-19 pandemic are recommended.

Can Gender Differences in Distress Due to Difficult Voices Be Explained by Differences in Relating?

BackgroundResearch on gender differences has found that women relate to negative voice hearing experiences with more negative emotions and report more distress due to voices, which may be rooted in differences in relating to voices. This study used a robust methodology and a large sample to explore gender differences in relating to voices and voice distress.MethodsMatched samples of male (n = 124) and female (n = 124) voice hearers were drawn from a survey for secondary analysis. Voice severity (e.g., frequency or loudness), voice distress, and different types of dysfunctional (i.e., passive or aggressive) and functional (assertive) relating were measured. Group comparisons, mediation models, and network analyses were calculated.ResultsFemale voice hearers reported more severe voices, more voice distress, more passive, and less assertive relating. Mediation and network analyses yielded evidence for pathways from gender to voice distress via relating and via differences in voice severity.ConclusionGender differences in the emotional impact of voices can be partially explained by relating behavior. Psychological interventions for voice hearing could be optimized by exploring the influence of gender in the emergence of distressing voices. Nevertheless, gender differences need to be treated as one of several different possible mechanisms when working with individual patients.

Gender differences in cancer-related distress in Japan: a retrospective observation study.

BackgroundCancer care is currently the most important medical issue in Japan. Total pain of cancer patients consists of a combination of four factors: physical, psychological, social distress, and spiritual pain. Previous studies showed female cancer patients ask for more psychological support and seem to suffer different types of distress compared with male patients, for example, appearance-related symptoms. However, other factors of cancer distress related to gender have not been defined comprehensively. The aim of this study is to clarify the gender differences in cancer distress types in order to elucidate the measures that should be taken in Japan to improve the quality of whole cancer care based on gender-based medicine.MethodsThe data of new patients who had visited the psycho-oncology outpatient service of Kinki University Hospital during the period of May 2013 to October 2015 were collected. Demographic factors and all assessed items were extracted from the patients’ medical charts retrospectively. Based on an inquiry of cancer patients in 2010, each item representing the four factors of “total pain” of cancer patients was chosen, i.e., physical distress (pain, changes in appearance), psychological distress (anxiety, depression), social distress (family problems, job-related problems), and spiritual pain; together with sexuality issues, and answers were analyzed. Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) was used for the assessment of psychological distress. Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were performed for gender differences in the cancer distress types. Pearson’s analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed for the association of gender with each item.ResultsThe data of 101 cancer patients were analyzed and there were more female patients than male patients (female: male ratio = 71:30). Female cancer patients were more likely to suffer from psycho-social issues such as changes in appearance, family problems and sexuality issues than male patients, and male patients were more likely to have spiritual pain.ConclusionsThere were gender differences in the distress types of cancer patients. In order to improve the quality of whole cancer care, more intensive intervention by medical professionals and social support is needed from the viewpoint of gender-based medicine and psycho-oncology.

The Gendered Construction and Experience of Difficulties and Rewards in Cancer Care

Women cancer carers have consistently been found to report higher levels of distress than men carers. However, there is little understanding of the mechanisms underlying these gender differences in distress, and a neglect of rewarding aspects of care. We conducted in-depth semistructured interviews with 53 informal cancer carers, 34 women and 19 men, to examine difficult and rewarding aspects of cancer care. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the transcripts. Women were more likely to report negative changes in the relationship with the person with cancer; neglect of self, social isolation, and physical health consequences; anxiety; personal strength and growth; and to position caring as a privilege. Men were more likely to report increased relational closeness with the person with cancer, and the burden of additional responsibilities within the home as a difficult aspect of caring. We interpret these findings in relation to a social constructionist analysis of gender roles.

Gender Differences in Distress: The Mediating Influence of Life Stressors and Psychological Resources

Using the data from Canadian National Population Health Survey (NPHS), Cycle 1, this research explore gender differences in distress and the mediating influence of life stressors (i.e., chronic stress, work stress, negative life events, and childhood and adulthood trauma), and psychological resources (self-esteem, mastery, and sense of coherence). The findings from t-test analyses indicated that females reported more psychological distress, chronic stress, work stress, negative life events, and childhood and adulthood trauma, compared to males. However, in terms of psychological resources, male participants reported having more self-esteem, mastery, and sense of coherence. Results from regression analyses showed that life stressors and psychological resources are mediating factors influencing gender differences in distress, controlling for other socio-demographic and psychological variables.

Former partners and new rivals as threats to a relationship: Infidelity type, gender, and commitment as factors related to distress and forgiveness

AbstractThe overall aim of this study was to examine differences in responses to relationship infidelity when the infidelity involves a former romantic partner as opposed to a new rival. Participants indicated, for either sexual or emotional infidelity, whether they would be more upset if their partner were involved with a former partner or a new person, and whether they would be forgiving. Men and women saw the former partner as a greater threat when the infidelity was sexual. However, for emotional infidelity, only women selected the former partner more frequently. Ratings of the degree of distress and likelihood of forgiveness followed a similar pattern. For women, measures of relationship commitment were related to distress and forgiveness. For men, these measures were related to forgiveness only. The gender differences in distress may be related to differences between men and women in beliefs about the importance of commitment.

Age and the Gender Gap in Distress

ABSTRACT Women report more psychological distress than men and recent evidence suggests that this gap increases with age. It has been argued that the widening differential in distress reflects the progressive and cumulative nature of women's disadvantaged work and family roles. Drawing on the cumulative disadvantage hypothesis and social stress theory, we test: (1) whether exposure to chronic stress accounts for an increasingly larger proportion of the gender effect on distress with age; and (2) whether women are increasingly more vulnerable to the effects of chronic stress on distress with age. Data are from the 1994 wave of the Canadian National Population Health Survey, a national probability sample of women and men aged 20 and older (N = 13,798). Exposure to long-term stress helps us understand gender differences in distress for those in their pre-retirement years. However, contrary to the cumulative disadvantage hypothesis, the model became increasingly less likely to explain such differences with age. Gendered vulnerability to long-term stress was not evident in the sample. The implications of these findings are discussed with particular reference to our ongoing efforts to understand health in the context of social structure and subjectivity.

Ethnic and Gender Differences in Distress Among Anglo American, African American, Japanese American, and Mexican American Spousal Caregivers of Persons with Dementia

Distress, coping, and social resources were compared in a sample of 202 Japanese-, Anglo-, African-, and Mexican American spousal caregivers of persons with dementia using a Stress-Coping model. Both ethnicity and gender showed differential effects on the outcome and on the moderating variables. Female caregivers in all ethnic groups reported significantly higher levels of psychiatric symptomatology. All 4 ethnic groups reported high rates of psychological distress, with Mexican Americans reporting significantly higher rates of depression than Anglo or African Americans. Ethnicity was related to (1) the kind of caregiving appraisals (spiritual, pessimistic, and lack of support), (2) coping styles (escape-avoidance and seeking social support), and (3) social support. African Americans were more likely to be spiritual appraisers, to have more positive appraisals, and to have more social support available to them. Gender differences were evident on 4 out of the 6 caregiver appraisals, but none of the coping styles. Although males tended to have more perfectionistic appraisals, they were also more likely to view caregiving with a less negative and more self-efficacious outlook.

Infidelity, race, and gender: An evolutionary perspective on asymmetries in subjective distress to violations-of-trust

Asymmetries in subjective distress were observed among African American and white (N = 191) men and women who were asked to imagine a partner being emotionally and sexually unfaithful, and a partner committing other paired, gender-linked viola-tions-of-trust. More women than men were distressed by imagining a partner forming a deep emotional attachment to another person and more men than women were distressed by imagining a partner enjoying passionate sexual intercourse with another person. In addition, more men than women were distressed by male-linked violations, such as a partner no longer trying to look attractive, and more women than men were distressed by female-linked violations, such as a partner no longer wanting to work. The results contribute to a growing body of cross-cultural research reporting gender differences in distress to emotional and sexual infidelity. The results also provide cross-cultural validation of the extension of an evolutionary perspective to under-standing gender differences in subjective distress to other biologically relevant viola-tions-of-trust.

Mediators of the Gender Difference in Rumination

Rumination is engaging in a passive focus on one's symptoms of distress and on the possible causes and consequences of these symptoms. Women are more likely than men to engage in rumination. This study examined whether gender differences in the following beliefs would mediate the gender difference in rumination: the controllability of emotions, the appropriateness of rumination as a coping strategy, responsibility for the emotional tone of relationships, and mastery over negative events. The sample was 740 community-dwelling adults between 25 and 75 years of age, who completed a survey by mail. The combination of beliefs about control of emotions, responsibility for the emotional tone of relationships, and mastery over negative events fully mediated the gender difference in rumination. Alternative hypotheses that the gender difference in rumination was due to gender differences in distress, emotional expressivity, and the tendency to give socially desirable answers were not supported.

Gender and health: reassessing patterns and explanations

Recent research on gender and health challenges the prevailing notion of women’s generalized health disadvantage by revealing a more variable pattern of gender differences in health. As such differences come to be comprehended as more complex than previously thought, there is a need to reassess the pathways linking gender and health. Using data from a Canadian national probability sample, we examine: (1) gender differences in distress, self-rated health, chronic conditions, restricted activity and heavy drinking; and (2) the role of gender-based differential exposure and vulnerability to chronic stress and life events in explaining observed differences. We find that women report more distress and chronic conditions than men, but gender differences are reversed for heavy drinking, and negligible for self-rated health and restricted activity. Although women reported more chronic stress and life events, their greater exposure accounted for only some of the gender disparity in health, and only for distress. Differential vulnerability to stressors played no role in explaining gender differences in health. These findings raise questions about a gendered, generalized health response to the vicissitudes of life and suggest the need for further theoretical and empirical exploration of “gendered” experiences and their pathways to health.

Gender Differences in the Effect of the Subjective Experience of Diabetes and Sense of Control on Distress

A unique feature of diabetes is the extent to which individuals must engage in self-management in order to successfully cope with their condition. Because of the role of self-regulation in diabetic care, subjective sense of control may be a particularly salient psycho-social resource among diabetic people. We examine the influence on distress of mastery, and the subjective experience of diabetes, measured as interference, dissatisfaction, andembarrassment. We also examine gender differences in the influence of these subjective experiences on diabetic people’s distress. We find that gender differences in distress are explained by the greater salience for women’s distress of role-related sense of control, measured as how much diabetes interferes with the performance of roles, and general sense of control, measured as mastery. Results are discussed in terms of gender differences in the experience of roles, and in terms of the implications of results for the management of chronic conditions requiring self-care.

Gender Differences in Distress Among Burn Patients at One Month Follow-Up

Gender Differences in Distress Among Burn Patients at One Month Follow-Up

The Meanings Individuals Attach to Role Identities and Their Implications for Mental Health

Although several theoretical and methodological approaches have been developed for assessing the meaning of roles and role-related stressors, individuals' own understandings of the meaning of their role identities have been ignored in stress research. In this paper, I first examine the ways in which meaning has been conceptualized and assessed. I then explore the meanings individuals themselves attach to role identities and their implications for mental health. Qualitative analyses of indepth follow-up interviews with 40 people who had participated in a community panel study of mental health reveal considerable variation in the meanings they attach to spouse, parent, and worker identities. I also find that the meanings people assign to role identities are based on their perceptions of the benefits and costs of role involvement. Moreover, while most meanings are shared by men and women, there are gender differences in some meanings which reflect gender differences in the perceived benefits and costs of role involvement. Finally, quantitative analyses show that some meanings of role identities are associated with symptoms and are involved in gender differences in distress. These and other illustrative findings suggest that stress researchers would find it useful to incorporate the meanings individuals themselves attach to their role identities and devote greater attention to men's and women's perceptions of both the positive and negative aspects of their role involvement.

The Relationship of Self-Restraint and Distress to Coping Among Spouses Caring for Persons With Alzheimer's Disease

This study investigated the relationship between two basic dimensions of social-emotional adjustment: distress and self-restraint, as identified by Weinberger and Schwartz (1990), and the use of four coping strategies by spouse caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease. Care givers were most frequently categorized as oversocialized (high distress, high self-restraint) and repressive (low distress, high self-restraint) according to Weinberger and Schwartz's (1990) social-emotional adjustment typology. A higher proportion of males than females were under- socialized (low distress, low self-restraint) and reactive (high distress, low self-restraint), whereas a higher proportion of females than males were oversocialized (high distress, high self-restraint). High distress caregivers were more likely to use the emotion-focused coping strategy of wishfulness, whereas low distress caregivers were more likely to use acceptance and the problem-focused strategy of instrumental coping. Although there were gender differences in distress and the use of specific coping strategies, the relationships between distress and coping strategies used held regardless of gender. Implications for caregiver intervention programs as well as directions for future research are discussed.

Psychosocial Correlates of Affective Distress: Latent-Variable Models of Male and Female Adolescents in a Community Sample

Latent-variable confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the interrelationships of depressive and anxious symptomatology and 13 measures of psychosocial functioning in a community-based sample of adolescents participating in a school-based drug abuse prevention intervention. Measures of psychosocial functioning included: cognitive self-efficacy, self-management, self-reinforcement, decision-making and problem-solving skills, interpersonal skills, social anxiety, behavioral style, risk taking, conventionality, somatic complaints, perceived tangible, and adult support. Simultaneous group comparison and nested hierarchical tests were used to statistically contrast parameters obtained from male and female models. Overall, the hypothetical constructs were statistically reliable and models were psychometrically sound. Partial factorial invariance was obtained, however, the patterns of covariation between distress and psychosocial functioning were dissimilar for male and female youth. Differences clustered around affective distress, cognitive skills, and perceived functional support. More socially anxious females perceived less social support, whereas support and anxiety were positively related among male students. Male youth with high levels of conventional behavior were also socially anxious, whereas for females this relationship was absent and nonsignificant. For both male and female students, distress was moderately and inversely related to cognitive efficacy and personal competence skills. Distressed youth were also less conventional (behavioral control) and less diligent, and were characterized by greater sensation-seeking, poorer competence, and perceived less social support, and were more socially anxious with less interpersonal skills. Findings are discussed in terms of potential contributors to gender differences in distress and psychosocial functioning and their implications for the understanding of adolescent mental health.

Gender differences in distress: mental health consequences of environmental stress among jail inmates.

The present study examines the influence of gender and environmental stress on the mental health of a sample of 198 male and female jail inmates. Environmental stress is conceptualized as the degree of congruence between inmates' demand and the jail's supply of several environmental features. A state of incongruence was hypothesized to increase the mental distress of jail inmates. In addition, it was hypothesized that female inmates would have higher levels of distress than male inmates, with environmental stress as a possible explanation for gender differences in distress. Female inmates were found to have significantly higher levels of mental distress than males. However, environmental stress was found to be equally detrimental to the mental health of both male and female inmates. Thus, although congruence between environmental demand and supply is a significant predictor of mental health, it is not an explanation for the alarmingly high levels of mental distress found among female inmates.

Parental Role Strains, Salience of Parental Identity and Gender Differences in Psychological Distress

Although past research indicates that women's higher levels of psychological distress can be accounted for by their greater exposure and vulnerability to role-related stress, the social psychological factors contributing to female vulnerability have not been fully identified. This paper applies identity theory to the phenomenon of gender differences in distress among parents. From an identity perspective, I propose that salience of the parental identity in women's self-conceptions contributes to their vulnerability to parental role strains. Using 1988 survey data from a stratified random sample of married and divorced Indianapolis residents (N = 448), I find that gender differences in distress are explained by differences in exposure to parental role strains. Further analyses reveal, however, that salience of the parental identity contributes to both men's and women's vulnerability to parental role strains. These findings underscore the utility of identity theory for explaining psychological distress among women and men.