GENDER DIFFERENCES IN REPORTED STRESS-RESPONSE TO THE LOMA-PRIETA EARTHQUAKE

Previous research has consistently demonstrated that men and women differ in the expression of emotions such as depression, anxiety, and stress. However, little research has investigated the question of whether men and women differ in their stress response to a cataclysmic event. The present study investigated gender differences in stress response to the Loma Prieta earthquake. Two hundred and eleven subjects participated in this study. The sample was composed of 108 men and 103 women; the racial composition of the sample was approximately 73% Caucasian 15% Asian-American, 9% Hispanic, 2% African-American, and 1% Native American. All subjects completed two standardized stress measures (the Impact of Events scale and the Symptom checklist-90R) and answered open-ended questions regarding their experience of the earthquake. Results showed that women clearly reported experiencing greater amounts of stress in response to the earthquake. Women also estimated that the earthquake lasted significantly longer than did men. These results are explained by the greater acceptance in our society for women to express emotions, particularly stress-related emotions.