Women Bounce Back Better

By drodriguez Jun 15, 2010

It's long been thought that women suffer more from bad break-ups and matters of the heart, but a new study proves that theory is entirely wrong. According to some recent research men's mental health suffers greater damage after a break-up than a woman's.

A report from FOX News discusses the study conducted by Robin Simon, a Wake Forest University professor of sociology. Simon conducted the study on 1,000 unmarried men and women ranging in age from 18 to 23. What Simon found was that men felt the highs and lows of relationships more severely than women. Meaning that when times are good, men feel happier than women. But when things sour in a relationship, men tend to feel more down than most women would.

Simon explains the ways men and women often differ when handling stress. Simon says, "Women express emotional distress with depression, while men express emotional distress with substance problems." So, while women may cry more, men are more likely to take part in destructive activities involving alcohol or drugs after experiencing the loss of a romantic relationship.

An article from the Los Angeles Times theorizes that the reason men don't deal with break-ups as well as women is because men's "romantic partners are their primary source of intimacy." Women tend to form close knit relationships with friends or family and can turn to this intimate circle after a romantic relationship comes to an end.

Do you think men have a more difficult time handling the emotional stresses of a break-up?

Why do you think this might be?

Make a Comment

Comments

by shydimples | Douglasville, GA

Jul 03, 2010

I think it depends on the man. Most men do not like to talk about things, but I think that they keep alot of their feelings within and mask alot of their feeling by either moving quickly into another relationship or withdrawing altogether. Most women do have a better support system, but women who have children do not have the luxury of truly dealing with the breakup because they are confronted with reality of day to day situations and they must function accordingly and cry in secret.

by contessakris | Grandview, MO

Jun 28, 2010

I think women have more of an accepted support system of talking Men don't seem to do the 'talk it out' thing with their buddies. It's all about looking cool and together. They're not apt to cry on each other's shoulders for the most part.

by janet1976 | chicago, IL

Jun 22, 2010

I sort of agree with this article women have a bit more of support available for them than men! the thing is that I feel that women are the ones that take a breakup more harder than men do. We are more sensitive and have more to loose than men do.

by RadioGirl87 | NORTH AUGUSTA, SC

Jun 21, 2010

I can definitely see how this could be true. I mean, granted, I always felt like I took break ups way harder... but I was able to express it and talk to my friends. Most guys I know don't know how to express themselves and hold it in.... turning to things to make it better, but not people. Men need to feel like it's ok for them to express themselves.

by sharman421 | TALLAHASSEE, FL

Jun 20, 2010

True, women talk about it. Men suck it up or place blame. Little boys need to be raised to express their feelings and not try to be "tough".

by momagarry | MILWAUKEE, WI

Jun 20, 2010

Men keep everything in and women let everything out. Men are more stressed because of this.

by cybrown551 | HOOKSETT, NH

Jun 16, 2010

Men have been taught to be tough and to withhold their feelings were as women on the other hand have been taught to express themselves and to share with others. Therefore, men not being able to find a confidant in each other they tend to bottle their feelings inside.

by msfriendly | MONROE, WI

Jun 15, 2010

I agree that women tend to have more support from their girl friends to help through tough times. Women tend to heal emotionally while men tend to do physical things to ease their troubles.