Women are Less Happy than Men, Insights from a Psychologist and Four Actionable Steps
A puzzling trend emerges in research on women’s well-being. Despite enjoying increased freedom and job prospects, women are experiencing elevated levels of anxiety and facing a greater prevalence of mental health issues, including depression, anger, loneliness, and disrupted sleep. This pattern transcends national boundaries and applies to various age demographics.
A recent survey conducted by the American Psychological Association may shed light on these trends. The findings revealed that a majority of women in the United States are dissatisfied with how society treats them.
Gendered Caregiving Burdens and Workplace Challenges
Many women continue to shoulder the primary caregiving responsibilities for children and elderly family members. Additionally, most of them bear the dual burden of managing household affairs and family obligations alongside their paid employment. Disturbingly, within the workplace, three out of every five women have encountered instances of bullying, sexual harassment, or verbal abuse.
The gender disparity in well-being became particularly evident during the pandemic when many women took on additional domestic and caregiving duties while also fulfilling their work responsibilities. However, it’s noteworthy that despite the greater impact on their well-being, women demonstrated a swifter recovery, suggesting that they possess greater emotional resilience compared to men.
The Role of Robust Social Connections in Women’s Resilience
One contributing factor to women’s resilience could be their strong social connections. In a 2019 study, researchers discovered that women outperformed men in fostering positive relationships with others and exhibited a greater capacity for personal growth. Essentially, women tend to be more adept at seeking support, seeking assistance earlier, and thus are more likely to overcome adversity more swiftly.
Moreover, women tend to place a higher value on social connections than men. Studies have shown that women’s friendships tend to be more intimate, emphasizing face-to-face interactions that facilitate deeper self-disclosure and emotional support. In contrast, men’s friendships often revolve around shared activities, with activities like watching a football game taking precedence over heartfelt coffee chats. This difference in social interaction styles may further explain women’s ability to safeguard their mental health.
Balancing Happiness with Purpose
While women may not experience as much immediate happiness as men and often confront higher levels of social inequality, a recent study suggests that women tend to report having a greater sense of purpose in their lives. Having a sense of meaning and purpose in life is closely linked to improved health and a longer lifespan.
The research indicates that women often engage more frequently in altruistic activities, such as providing support to others and volunteering for charitable causes, which contributes to their heightened sense of meaning and purpose.
However, it’s important to note that this tendency is likely influenced by cultural norms that encourage women to prioritize the needs of others. Although prioritizing others doesn’t necessarily lead to increased personal happiness, it unquestionably contributes to an overall sense of well-being.
Considering these findings, it’s essential for women to allocate time for self-care to safeguard their mental and emotional well-being. Here are four evidence-based strategies to help achieve this:
Prioritizing Women’s Self-Care for Mental and Emotional Well-Being
- Consider therapy: Creating a space exclusively for yourself, where you can openly discuss your feelings and emotions, is crucial for your psychological health. Art-based therapies can be especially beneficial for women, as can group-based interventions that offer a platform for women to converse openly with their peers, reducing feelings of stigma and shame.
- Connect with nature: Spending time in natural environments can be remarkably soothing. Recent research suggests that nature-based interventions are particularly therapeutic for women who have faced trauma or illness. Women’s biological and value systems often align with the natural world, as reflected in concepts like “Mother Earth,” symbolizing the feminine inclination toward nurturing and life-giving attributes. Therefore, incorporating outdoor activities in natural settings into your daily or weekly routines, such as beach walks, woodland jogs, or park reading, can be highly beneficial.
- Prioritize physical activity: Studies indicate that regular physical exercise can enhance self-acceptance and personal growth in women. Aerobic exercise, in particular, is beneficial for cognitive health as women age. High-impact weight-bearing activities, such as jumping and running, can enhance bone health for middle-aged women, while consistent moderate exercise like walking has been shown to alleviate menopause-related symptoms.
- Reduce alcohol consumption: Women face gender-specific risks associated with alcohol consumption, including a higher likelihood of becoming victims of violence and experiencing health-related issues such as heart disease and breast cancer. Women also metabolize alcohol more quickly than men, which can increase vulnerability. Given that women are twice as likely as men to experience anxiety, reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption may be a prudent choice. Research indicates that quitting alcohol can significantly enhance women’s health and overall happiness.
Read the original article on: Medical X press
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