Solid as a Rock or Rocking in a Fetal Position? Queendom Study Reveals Gender and Age Differences in the Way We Cope with Stress
Queendom.com uncovers interesting gender and age differences when it comes to how we deal with life's ups and downs.
Montreal, Canada, November 19, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Queendom.com, one of the web's foremost sources of personality, career, and IQ assessments, unveils interesting results of their popular Coping Skills Test. Men and women and people of different age groups seem to differ as to how they keep their heads up when life brings them down.
Men have often been viewed as the strong, silent types, but women are not as fragile as they are often depicted. But who handles stress better? Queendom's data reveal that while men did outscore women in that they used more positive than negative coping techniques, it was only by a very slight margin (score of 60 vs. 59 respectively). In terms of coping strategies, when faced with stress, women were more likely to seek out helpful information (score of 60 for women, 54 for men) and social support from others (score of 53 for women, 47 for men). Men, on the other hand, were more likely to find ways to calm down, such as taking time to relax or finding an outlet - blogging, listen to music - to vent their emotions (score of 58 for men, 55 for women). In terms of unhealthy methods of coping, men were more likely to distract themselves (score of 61 for men, 56 for women), which isn't a problem in itself as long as they face the stressor eventually, while women were more likely to ruminate excessively (54 for women, 47 for men), to feel helpless (40 for women, 33 for men), and to become unfriendly or argumentative (42 for women, 36 for men).
Age differences were also quite distinct and in some cases, surprising. The use of healthy stress management techniques, like information-seeking, seeking social support, negotiation (compromising goals, changing mindset, or behavior in order to better fit within the constraints of the stressful situation), and positive cognitive restructuring (adopting a more optimistic view) tended to increase with age. Younger age groups (29 and under) were more likely to turn to distractions when under stress. Interestingly, the 30-39 age group were the most likely to ruminate (score of 58), to feel helpless (score of 41), to withdraw from people and social situations (score of 43) and to take their stress out on others (score of 44).
"Stress hits hard in the 30's," theorizes Dr. Jerabek, president of the company. "People are likely to be settling into a job and starting a family in that age range, and most people do struggle with balancing work and family life. As to why they scored highest on negative coping techniques such as rumination, helplessness, and opposition, they may be feeling at their wits end, too busy to take a breather or to seek out help. I can imagine people like this griping their grievances to older family members like their parents, only to be told that 'we all went through it'. Sometimes, people may feel that admitting that they're stressed is a sign of weakness - that they can't cope or are not made of the tough fiber like people in the 'old days.'"
Queendom's data also reveal that, when faced with stress in their life:
- Only 50% of people indicated that they take time to relax.
- 16% admitted that they use drugs and alcohol more frequently.
- 36% said they turn to prayer or attend spiritual services.
- 30% joined a support group.
- 37% exercised.
Those who wish to take the Coping Skills Test and learn more about how they deal with stress can go to http://www.queendom.com/tests/access_page/index.htm?idRegTest=687
About Queendom.com
Queendom.com is a subsidiary of PsychTests AIM Inc. Queendom.com is a site that creates an interactive venue for self-exploration with a healthy dose of fun. The site offers a full range of professional-quality, scientifically-validated psychological assessments that empower people to grow and reach their real potential through insightful feedback and detailed, custom-tailored analysis.
About PsychTests AIM Inc:
PsychTests AIM Inc. originally appeared on the internet scene in 1997. Since its inception, it has become a pre-eminent provider of psychological assessment products and services to human resource personnel, therapists, academics, researchers and a host of other professionals around the world. PsychTests AIM Inc. staff is comprised of a dedicated team of psychologists, test developers, researchers, statisticians, writers, and artificial intelligence experts. PsychTests AIM Inc. was founded and is led by Dr. Ilona Jerabek, a specialist in the field of psychometric assessments and Vrat Jerabek Ph. D., a researcher and authority in the field of artificial intelligence.
Contact:
Ilona Jerabek, Ph.D., President
PsychTests AIM Inc.
http://testyourself.psychtests.com/
1-888-855-6975
ilona@psychtests.com
###
Men have often been viewed as the strong, silent types, but women are not as fragile as they are often depicted. But who handles stress better? Queendom's data reveal that while men did outscore women in that they used more positive than negative coping techniques, it was only by a very slight margin (score of 60 vs. 59 respectively). In terms of coping strategies, when faced with stress, women were more likely to seek out helpful information (score of 60 for women, 54 for men) and social support from others (score of 53 for women, 47 for men). Men, on the other hand, were more likely to find ways to calm down, such as taking time to relax or finding an outlet - blogging, listen to music - to vent their emotions (score of 58 for men, 55 for women). In terms of unhealthy methods of coping, men were more likely to distract themselves (score of 61 for men, 56 for women), which isn't a problem in itself as long as they face the stressor eventually, while women were more likely to ruminate excessively (54 for women, 47 for men), to feel helpless (40 for women, 33 for men), and to become unfriendly or argumentative (42 for women, 36 for men).
Age differences were also quite distinct and in some cases, surprising. The use of healthy stress management techniques, like information-seeking, seeking social support, negotiation (compromising goals, changing mindset, or behavior in order to better fit within the constraints of the stressful situation), and positive cognitive restructuring (adopting a more optimistic view) tended to increase with age. Younger age groups (29 and under) were more likely to turn to distractions when under stress. Interestingly, the 30-39 age group were the most likely to ruminate (score of 58), to feel helpless (score of 41), to withdraw from people and social situations (score of 43) and to take their stress out on others (score of 44).
"Stress hits hard in the 30's," theorizes Dr. Jerabek, president of the company. "People are likely to be settling into a job and starting a family in that age range, and most people do struggle with balancing work and family life. As to why they scored highest on negative coping techniques such as rumination, helplessness, and opposition, they may be feeling at their wits end, too busy to take a breather or to seek out help. I can imagine people like this griping their grievances to older family members like their parents, only to be told that 'we all went through it'. Sometimes, people may feel that admitting that they're stressed is a sign of weakness - that they can't cope or are not made of the tough fiber like people in the 'old days.'"
Queendom's data also reveal that, when faced with stress in their life:
- Only 50% of people indicated that they take time to relax.
- 16% admitted that they use drugs and alcohol more frequently.
- 36% said they turn to prayer or attend spiritual services.
- 30% joined a support group.
- 37% exercised.
Those who wish to take the Coping Skills Test and learn more about how they deal with stress can go to http://www.queendom.com/tests/access_page/index.htm?idRegTest=687
About Queendom.com
Queendom.com is a subsidiary of PsychTests AIM Inc. Queendom.com is a site that creates an interactive venue for self-exploration with a healthy dose of fun. The site offers a full range of professional-quality, scientifically-validated psychological assessments that empower people to grow and reach their real potential through insightful feedback and detailed, custom-tailored analysis.
About PsychTests AIM Inc:
PsychTests AIM Inc. originally appeared on the internet scene in 1997. Since its inception, it has become a pre-eminent provider of psychological assessment products and services to human resource personnel, therapists, academics, researchers and a host of other professionals around the world. PsychTests AIM Inc. staff is comprised of a dedicated team of psychologists, test developers, researchers, statisticians, writers, and artificial intelligence experts. PsychTests AIM Inc. was founded and is led by Dr. Ilona Jerabek, a specialist in the field of psychometric assessments and Vrat Jerabek Ph. D., a researcher and authority in the field of artificial intelligence.
Contact:
Ilona Jerabek, Ph.D., President
PsychTests AIM Inc.
http://testyourself.psychtests.com/
1-888-855-6975
ilona@psychtests.com
###
Contact
PsychTests AIM Inc.
Ilona Jerabek, PhD
514-745-3189
psychtests.com
toll-free at 1-888-855-6975
Ilona Jerabek, PhD
514-745-3189
psychtests.com
toll-free at 1-888-855-6975
Contact
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