Do women and men respond differently to stress?  <br><br>

As stressed as we are,women still have the advantage over men when it comes to coping. Newevidence? In most parts of the world women now live about ten years longerthan men. New cause? Differences in how we respond to a brain chemicalcalled oxytocin, suggests the latest stress research. Sometimes referred to as the bonding hormone or love hormone, oxytocin makes people (animals, too) care for each other. Sex (and masturbation) will trigger its release, but it alsohas ties to stressful situations. When the going gets rough, it helps people feel more connected and less frightened.<br><br>

Here is where the sexes are not created equal. While both men and women release oxytocin in some stressful situations, in men, testosterone appears to block oxytocin, so they stay in edgy fight-or-flight mode. In women, however, estrogen enhances nurturing oxytocin, so under stress wemay shift from fight or flight to a calmer state called tend and befriend. Oxytocin also tempers surges in blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels.The tend-and-befriend theory makes evolutionary sense. Eons ago, while men sprang into action to fight off a saber-toothed something, the women closed in to nurture and protect the babies, assuring survival. So, maybe it’s no surprise that today when we are stressed to the max, rather than fighting or fleeing, we often turn to each other, seeking comfort and consolation. Survival just might depend on it.