Tag

Gender Differences

All articles tagged with #gender differences

Libido Worries Are Widespread, New Study Shows
mental-health5 days ago

Libido Worries Are Widespread, New Study Shows

A mixed-method online survey of 1,317 adults found that 57.1% reported worrying about their libido, with concerns most often about a libido that’s too low or not matching a partner’s desire, and these worries were linked to mental health, stress, and relationship dynamics. The study also found gender and relationship-status differences, but cautioned the sample isn’t representative of all adults; authors urge broader, validated measures to better capture variation in sexual desire.

Paradox: Women Sleep Objectively Better Yet Perceive It Poorly
science25 days ago

Paradox: Women Sleep Objectively Better Yet Perceive It Poorly

A Swedish study of 476 adults (238 women, 238 men, ages 29–85) found that women objectively sleep better—fewer awakenings, longer total sleep, higher sleep efficiency, more deep sleep—yet they rate their sleep quality as poorer than men, who tend to underestimate their awakenings. The difference in self-reported sleep quality grows with age, though excluding men with very brief awakenings removes the gap. A limitation is the single-night measurement. Funded by Swedish foundations; published in Sleep Advances (2026).

Diet-Driven Fatigue: Deficiencies in B9 and B12 Linked to Energy Gaps
health1 month ago

Diet-Driven Fatigue: Deficiencies in B9 and B12 Linked to Energy Gaps

A cross‑sectional study of about 600 healthy adults finds higher homocysteine levels—reflecting folate and B12 deficiency—associate with fatigue: in men, more physical fatigue; in women, reduced motivation. The work suggests daily energy and mental drive depend on adequate B9/B12, not just sleep, and may expand the use of homocysteine screening beyond cardiovascular risk.

Urban Birds Flee From Women Faster Than From Men
environment2 months ago

Urban Birds Flee From Women Faster Than From Men

A European, multi-country study across 37 bird species found urban birds take flight sooner when approached by women than by men, with men able to stand closer by about a meter. The exact cues driving this sex difference—such as scent, gait, or body shape—remain unknown, and researchers call for follow-up experiments to identify the responsible signals. The 2,701 observations suggest urban birds are sensitive to subtle human cues, with implications for urban ecology and how scientists study animal behavior in cities.

Urban Birds Startle More at Women Than Men, Study Finds
science2 months ago

Urban Birds Startle More at Women Than Men, Study Finds

An international study of 37 urban bird species across five European countries found birds let male researchers approach about three feet closer before fleeing than female researchers, a robust sex-based difference in flight initiation distance across cities and species. Researchers ruled out obvious factors like hair length, body size, and height, and suggested possibilities such as subtle appearance cues or odor, but no definitive explanation yet. The finding is consistent but remains puzzling to scientists.

Win-Oriented Gaming Ties to Higher Anxiety, Study Shows
video-games3 months ago

Win-Oriented Gaming Ties to Higher Anxiety, Study Shows

A PsyPost study analyzing 13,464 adult gamers found that those who play primarily to win have higher generalized anxiety than players motivated by relaxation, fun, or improvement. Using network analysis, researchers observed that relaxed/fun/improve motives link to more gaming hours for socially avoidant players, while win-motivated players show a distinct pattern and may reduce play as anxiety increases. Women more often cite fun or relaxation, men more often aim to improve or win. Higher generalized anxiety also predicted lower life satisfaction across all players. Limitations include a gender-imbalanced, League of Legends–centric sample; findings suggest mental-health guidance should consider individual gaming motivations.

Left-Handedness Linked to Competitive Edge in One-on-One Showdowns
science4 months ago

Left-Handedness Linked to Competitive Edge in One-on-One Showdowns

Italian researchers find left-handed people, especially men, display greater competitiveness (including hypercompetitiveness) in one-on-one contexts, aligning with an evolutionarily stable strategy; dexterity tests didn’t predict competitiveness, and general personality traits were similar across handedness, with men more competitive and women more avoidance-prone.

Tracking 'Feel Sexy' in Books Reveals a Gendered Language of Desire
psychology4 months ago

Tracking 'Feel Sexy' in Books Reveals a Gendered Language of Desire

A study using the Google Books Ngram Viewer across 1800–2022 shows that the phrase 'feel sexy' is overwhelmingly used to describe women in published books, with 89% of qualifying phrases referencing female subjects. Variants like 'her feel sexy' and 'she felt sexy' are most common, and female versions appear about ten times more often than male ones, a trend that began in the late 1970s and accelerated after the 1990s, driven largely by heterosexual romance novels. The researchers link this to gendered sexual scripting and the concept of object of desire self-consciousness, while cautioning that books are just one communication channel and that future work should examine other media and languages and whether such language affects readers' mood or arousal.

Immune cells and hormones may explain why women's pain lasts longer
health4 months ago

Immune cells and hormones may explain why women's pain lasts longer

New research in mice and humans suggests that immune cells produce IL-10 to help resolve pain, and sex differences in this response—shaped by testosterone—may explain why women often recover more slowly from injury and have a higher risk of chronic pain. These findings point to therapies that boost the body's natural pain-resolution system rather than only blocking pain signals.

Immune signals and testosterone may explain why women's pain lasts longer
health4 months ago

Immune signals and testosterone may explain why women's pain lasts longer

A new Science Immunology study of 245 people with traumatic injuries, plus mouse experiments, suggests women’s pain lasts longer because their immune system is less effective at shutting off pain; men have higher interleukin-10, and testosterone boosts interleukin-10 production, helping pain fade faster. The findings, which align with observed sex differences in chronic pain, could guide future treatments (including hormone-based options) while acknowledging that pain biology is not explained by a single pathway.

Autism in girls often diagnosed later, study finds
health5 months ago

Autism in girls often diagnosed later, study finds

A Swedish study of 2.7 million people born 1985–2020 found 2.8% diagnosed with autism between ages 2 and 37. By age 20, male and female diagnosis rates were nearly equal, though boys were diagnosed earlier (median 13.1) than girls (15.9). The findings suggest underdiagnosis or later diagnosis in females, highlighting potential biases in diagnostic tools and the need for better recognition and support for autistic girls and women.

Large study finds women’s sexual attractions and fantasies are more fluid than men’s
relationships-and-sexual-health5 months ago

Large study finds women’s sexual attractions and fantasies are more fluid than men’s

A massive analysis of 56,892 participants across three online datasets found that men show more gender-specific attraction and fantasies, while women exhibit a broader range of attractions and more non-preferred gender interest. Straight men were most exclusive; patterns among gay and lesbian participants varied. The study used direct self-reports and indirect measures (IAT and qIAT) and discusses implications for sexuality theories, including the roles of social norms and objectification. Limitations include online samples and reliance on proxy measures rather than physiological arousal.

New Research Links Alcohol Consumption to Liver Damage and Cancer Risks
health6 months ago

New Research Links Alcohol Consumption to Liver Damage and Cancer Risks

As the new year approaches, experts highlight the significant impact of alcohol on health, including the risk of severe liver disease with as few as two drinks per day for women and three for men, with women experiencing double the liver toxicity; alcohol-related liver disease has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the only effective treatment is abstinence.