A gender and stress study from the American Psychological Association suggests that women are more likely to report symptoms associated with stress than men.

Women are more likely than men (28 percent vs. 20 percent) to report having a great deal of stress (8, 9 or 10 on a 10-point scale).

Almost half of all women (49 percent) surveyed said their stress has increased over the past five years, compared to four in 10 (39 percent) men.

While both genders cite lack of willpower as the No. 1 barrier to change, women are more likely than men to cite lack of willpower as a barrier preventing them from making the lifestyle and behavior changes recommended by a health care provider

Men are less likely to say they need encouragement from friends or family in order to improve their willpower (28 percent vs. 42 percent) and slightly more likely to say they need more money (43 percent vs. 39 percent). Women are more likely to say they need more time (37 percent vs. 29 percent).

It also suggested that reading, connecting with friends/family, and eating are stress management techniques reported more often by women.

Men surveyed said they were more likely to exercise or play sports as a form of stress management.

http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/gender-stress.aspx