People often assume that men get more stressed in traffic than women, but do they actually? A new study conducted in England supports this belief. It was found that women experience an 8.7% increase in stress levels in traffic, while men experience a 60% increase in stress levels. The subjects reported on their own stress levels, and later psychologists measured levels of stress chemicals in the subjects' saliva. They found that the actual levels were even higher than what subjects had self-reported.
It is sometimes not clear to an individual if he or she is stressed. The psychologists found that although half the male participants and two thirds of the female participants had stated that they did not feel stressed after 20 minutes of traffic, their saliva indicated that they were. Some indicators of tension in traffic include dizziness, breathlessness, muscular aches, chest pains, irritation, and erratic driving. Researchers also found that when individuals frequently experience stressful situations, they may be at an increased risk for high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, and suppressed immune function. Continuous stress can be very dangerous.
Researcher David Moxon concluded that the increased stress levels in males may be due to the fight or flight response. In most situations, an individual will either attempt to attack the situation or flee it. However, especially for males, not being able to do either when stuck in traffic causes stress. The study found that two-thirds of women were able to reduce stress in traffic by turning on the radio and singing along. Finding ways to cope with a frustrating situation can reduce stress.
References: http://news.drive.com.au/drive/roads-and-traffic/men-stress-more-in-traffic-study-20110526-1f5qv.html
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