Sex, gender, and blood pressure: Contributions to experimental pain report

Objective: The current study investigated whether the relationship between sex and experimental pain report was explained by systolic blood pressure (SBP) at rest or during pain task, by gender-role socialization as assessed by the Bern Sex Role Inventory, or both. The influence of gender-role socialization on pain report is often inferred but rarely studied. Methods: Fifty female and 54 male healthy, young adults completed the Bern Sex Role Inventory and then underwent a cold pressor task. Blood pressure was assessed before and during pain testing. Results: Univariate analyses indicated significant sex-related differences in pain threshold and pain tolerance. Baseline SBP was positively related to pain tolerance but did not explain sex differences, in accord with previous research. The Bem Sex Role Inventory demonstrated a relationship with pain, but did not explain sex differences. Conclusions: We suggest that context-specific measures of gender are needed to assess gender-related pain behaviors in specific situations. Results from the current study support our contention that gender is part of sex as commonly measured. Also, blood pressure does not appear to fully account for sex-related differences in pain.