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Emotion

How do men and women differ in emotional regulation flexibility?

Goubet KE, Chrysikou EG · Frontiers in psychology · 2019

Open access · cc by · source: Europe PMC

Women show greater flexibility and use a wider variety of emotional coping strategies across different situations compared to men.

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Key findings

Women demonstrated a larger overall repertoire of coping mechanisms and used a wider variety of distinct strategies across the different scenarios than men. When writing about their reactions, women were more likely than men to use problem-solving, seek social support, and express their emotions, whereas men were more likely to utilize acceptance in the health scenario. In self-reports, men reported using suppression and denial more frequently than women did.

Methodology

The researchers investigated how men and women adjust their coping strategies depending on the situation. They recruited 112 college students to read three hypothetical scenarios depicting stressful academic, relationship, and health events. After reading each scenario, participants spent 5 minutes free-writing about how they would react, and then ranked 12 strategies based on how likely they were to use them.

Limitations

Because the study relied on hypothetical written scenarios, it cannot prove how participants would actually behave during real-world crises. The study also did not measure whether the strategies participants chose were actually successful in reducing their distress. Additionally, the sample consisted entirely of young, non-depressed college students, meaning the results might not apply to older adults, clinical populations, or other cultural groups.

How this study connects

Role on claims

Each row is a claim on a concept or method page where this paper supports, challenges, or qualifies the statement. Roles are hand-checked — not a model guess.

  • SupportsEmotion Regulationconcept

    Women report using a wider, more diverse, and more flexible repertoire of emotional coping strategies across different situations compared to men.

    Evidence for the claim as stated.

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