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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Does the Y chromosome make a difference? Gender differences in attempts to change cardiovascular disease risk factors.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if gender differences exist in attempts to change cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor behaviors, specifically cigarette smoking, sedentary lifestyle, and overweight, and if the success of these attempted behavior changes also differs by gender in the Pawtucket Heart Health Program (PHHP). METHODS: The risk factors were considered in reference to individuals who needed to change a particular risk factor behavior. Data were gathered from three different sources within the PHHP (the contact card registry of participants and both cross-sectional and cohort household surveys). RESULTS: Women were much more likely than men to participate in PHHP risk factor programs related to smoking, exercise, or weight loss. Women were also more likely than men to self-report making attempts to change these risk factor behaviors. Men self-reported to have a greater percentage of long-term smoking cessation success than women, although men and women had similar success rates related to weight loss and increasing physical activity. Men who reported being at least 20% overweight at baseline achieved significantly greater self-reported weight loss when followed up about 8.5 years later than women who were overweight at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: More research needs to be done to find ways to help women become more successful at modifying CVD risk factor behaviors. In addition, emphasis must be placed on ways to help men initiate and increase the number of attempts they make to change these same risk factor behaviors.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Gender differences in ego defenses in adolescence: sex roles as one way to understand the differences.

Gender differences in ego defenses were hypothesized in adolescence, with greater internalization by girls and greater externalization by boys. Through the inclusion of sex role constructs (masculinity and feminity, agency and communion, and passivity-dependency), relational models as well as psychoanalytic theory were investigated as bases for sex differences. The Berm Sex Role Inventory and the Defense Mechanism Inventory were administered to 66 high school students (31 boys and 25 girls), ages 14-19. As expected, boys scored higher on projection and aggression-outward defenses and girls scored higher on turning against the self, but girls failed to exceed boys on reversal. Multiple regression supported sex roles as moderating variables in gender differences in defenses. Alternative reconceptualizations of sex roles supported aspects of both psychoanalytic and relational models as explanation of gender differences in defenses.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Success strivings and their relationship to affective work behaviors: gender differences.

Gender differences in the importance of six life success dimensions and their relationships to job satisfaction, job involvement, and propensity to stay on the job were examined among 756 working women and men in southeast Florida. Results showed that the female participants rated family relationships, personal fulfillment, and security as more important success measures than their male counterparts did, and they rated status/wealth as less important. Professional fulfillment and security were not significantly different. The relationships between measures of success and work behaviors also varied significantly by gender, even after controlling for demographic and job position variables.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Older adult performance on the Communication Profile for the Hearing Impaired: gender difference.

Gender difference in auditory function with age is well documented. However, little is known about the influence of interacting sensory, psycho-social, and economic variables on adjustment to hearing loss. Adjustment to acquired, mild-to-moderate hearing loss by advantaged older women and men was examined using the Communication Profile for the Hearing Impaired (CPHI) (Demorest & Erdman, 1987). Correlational analyses revealed relationships between scales to be similar for women and men. Controlling for socio-demographic and hearing variables, group responses for the majority of CPHI scales did not differ significantly. Six scales differed significantly, and those results are discussed. When compared to men, women assigned greater importance to effective social communication, were more likely to use nonverbal communication strategies, reported greater anger and stress, and reported greater problem awareness and less denial associated with hearing loss. The CPHI is a useful tool for specifying parameters of perceived communication handicap for both older men and women. Findings underscore the need to consider gender-specific self-assessment of communication and personal adjustment in clinical management of older adults with age-related hearing loss.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Status of research on gender differences.

Gender bias persists in the use of women in clinical trials, but the situation is improving. Pharmacokinetics is an obvious area in which to examine gender differences in the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of drugs. Pharmacokinetics change during pregnancy and during the different phases of woman's life cycle. The federal government has undertaken a long-range study of the diseases, disorders, and conditions of women: the Women's Health Initiative.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Different gender response to serotonergic and noradrenergic antidepressants. A comparative study of the efficacy of citalopram and reboxetine.

BACKGROUND: It is well established that depressive disorders are more prevalent in women; however gender differences in the pharmacological response to antidepressants are not a consistent finding in all reports. It is considered that this discrepancy can be explained by the fact that in most clinical trials drug use for comparative purposes is not completely different. In this study gender differences in antidepressant response with citalopram (CTP), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and reboxetine (RBX), a selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor were evaluated in a group of young men and premenopausal women. METHOD: Eighty-six depressed patients 18 to 40 years old participated in an 8-week double-blind clinical trial. Subjects were divided in four groups according to sex and treatment assignation: females treated with CTP (n = 25) or RBX (n = 23), and males treated with CTP (n = 19) or RBX (n = 19). Response was determined using HDRS and BDI. RESULTS: ANOVA analysis considering change in HDRS scores from baseline to last evaluation found a significant interaction between gender and type of treatment. Females treated with CTP showed a significantly greater response than females treated with RBX, while in men no differences were observed for both drugs. LIMITATIONS: Replication using larger sample size and longer treatment periods is required. CONCLUSIONS: These results support previous findings which show that premenopausal women respond better than men to serotonergic antidepressants. They also support that a plausible interaction between gonadal hormones and serotonin may explain gender differences in antidepressant response.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Are gender differences in depression explained by gender differences in co-morbid anxiety?

BACKGROUND: This review tested the hypothesis that gender differences in depression rates are a function of gender differences in co-morbid anxiety disorders. METHOD: We identified studies using diagnostic criteria, and reporting rates of pure depression, pure anxiety and co-morbid depression and anxiety, separately for females and males. The results of these studies were examined to assess the level of support for the co-morbidity hypothesis. RESULTS: Although some studies supported or partially supported the hypothesis, the methodologically superior studies did not. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with either disorder alone or co-morbidly. Furthermore, the ratio of women to men who experience anxiety alone or anxiety in combination with depression tends to be higher than the ratio of women to men who experience depression alone. Attempts to explain the gender difference in rates of depression would benefit from an understanding that women also are more likely to experience anxiety.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Gender differences in bone density at different skeletal sites of acquisition with age in Chinese children and adolescents.

Bone mass acquisition from different genders and races of children and adolescents may vary. To explore gender- and age-related differences in bone mineral density (BMD) measurements in Chinese children and adolescents, we used the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) bone densitometer to take BMD measurements at the posteroanterior (PA) and lateral spine, hip, and forearm in 1286 healthy children and adolescents, ranging from 6 to 24 years of age. Our results show a correlation between BMD measurements taken from different skeletal sites and from different ages of subjects. Male data were best fit to a power regression model, yielding the largest determinant coefficients (R (2)), whereas S regression was the best fitting model for females. In individuals younger than 17 years of age, the rate of BMD accumulation in the PA spine is more rapid in females than in males, whereas in individuals older than 19 years of age, the converse was found to be true. In children younger than 14 years of age, BMD measurements, taken from the lateral spine, the neck and trochanter of the femur, and the total hip, correlated with age similarly in both genders. Additionally, in measurements taken from the forearm ultradistal and 1/3 region, BMD measurements from similar ages of both genders are similar. With increasing age, BMD measurements in males become significantly higher than those of females. However, volumetric BMD (vBMD) measurements from both genders show good uniformity at the lateral spine with a near overlap of the two models. Our findings suggest that vBMD acquisition measurements in Chinese children and adolescents show no gender differences, with gender differences only demonstrated in areal BMD (aBMD) measurements taken from different skeletal sites.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1990

Gender differences in intelligence, language, visual-motor abilities, and academic achievement in students with learning disabilities: a review of the literature.

A substantial body of research confirms higher verbal ability in normally achieving females and higher visual-spatial and mathematical abilities in normally achieving males. However, the specific nature of these differences varies by age, specific measure, magnitude, and variability within the groups. Re-analysis of earlier research showed that, although differences in visual-spatial ability were larger than verbal ability differences, gender differences did not account for more than 1% to 5% of the group variance. In the population with learning disabilities (LD), research must be interpreted cautiously because LD samples were drawn mainly from the system-identified population and may reflect selection bias. Findings indicate that system-identified females with LD are lower in IQ, have more severe academic achievement deficits in some aspects of reading and math, and are somewhat better in visual-motor abilities, spelling, and written language mechanics than males with LD. In mathematics, however, it is difficult to document consistent differences in computational skills in the elementary school ages. More consistent findings, however, indicate superiority in mathematical reasoning in males with LD. A limited number of studies on research-identified samples indicate that findings from studies of school-identified LD samples must be interpreted cautiously because females with LD identified in the schools may not be representative of females with LD in general.

Achievement↗
PubMed1996

Cognitive gender differences in very young children parallel biologically based cognitive gender differences in monkeys.

Infant humans were trained on 2 cognitive tests that have previously revealed, in infant monkeys, a double dissociation that was reversible by perinatal manipulations of androgens and ablations of specific brain sites. Children showed the same sex-linked behavior found with infant monkeys: young boys were superior on the object reversal task and young girls were superior on the concurrent discrimination task. As happened previously with infant monkeys, the gender difference was not apparent in older human subjects. Thus, early in ontogeny, cognitive gender differences have now been discovered in both humans and monkeys, probably a result of gender differences in androgens that influence the maturation rate of specific brain systems.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Alcohol preference in AXB/BXA recombinant inbred mice: gender differences and gender-specific quantitative trait loci.

The purpose of the present study was to characterize the C57BL/6J, A/J, and AXB/BXA Recombinant Inbred (RI) strains of mice for voluntary alcohol consumption. Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) analysis was used to provide provisional location of QTLs for alcohol consumption. The inbred strains were screened for levels of alcohol intake (calculated as alcohol preference and absolute alcohol consumption) by receiving 4 days of forced exposure to a 10% (wt/vol) solution of alcohol, followed by 3 weeks of free choice between water and 10% alcohol. A wide and continuous distribution of values for alcohol consumption and preference was obtained in the AXB/BXA RI strains, confirming polygenic influences on alcohol-related behaviors. Significant gender differences were found for both alcohol preference [F28,651 = 2.12, p < 0.001] and absolute alcohol consumption [F28,647 = 2.57, p < 0.001]. In males, putative QTLs were mapped to chromosomes (Chrs) 2, 5, 7, 10, 11, and 16. Multiple regression analysis indicated that approximately 75% of the genetic variance in alcohol preference in males could be accounted for by three of the QTL regions. Several of the putative QTLs appeared to be male-specific (Tyr on Chr 7; D10Mit126 on Chr 10; D11Mit61 on Chr 11). In females, seven putative QTLs were mapped to Chrs 2, 4, 5, 7, 11, 16, and 19. Approximately 90% of the genetic variance in alcohol preference in females could be accounted for by four QTL regions, as determined by multiple regression. The QTL on Chr 11 near D11Mit35 appeared to be female-specific. This site was close to a female-specific QTL (Alcp2) previously mapped in C57BL/6J x DBA/2J backcrosses by Melo and coworkers (Nat Genet 13, 147, 1996). The QTLs mapped for alcohol preference in the present study must be considered suggestive at the present time, since only D2Mit74 met very strict statistical criteria for significance. However, the concordance across several studies for the loci on Chrs 2, 4, 7, 9, and 11 suggest that some common QTLs influencing alcohol preference have been identified. Confirmation of QTLs mapped in the present study is currently being conducted in a new series of recombinant congenic (RC) strains developed from reciprocal backcrosses between the A/J and C57BL/6J progenitors. The concomitant use of both RI and RC strains developed from the same progenitors should provide a powerful means of detecting, confirming, and mapping QTLs for alcohol-related traits.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed2001

Gender differences in protein metabolism.

Adult male and female humans have clear differences in muscle mass and there is mounting evidence that substrate metabolism differs between genders. These facts suggest that there are gender differences in protein metabolism between males and females. Studies utilizing stable isotopically labeled amino acids show little indication that whole body protein synthesis or breakdown is different between genders. There is evidence that leucine oxidation may be different, both at rest and during exercise, but this evidence is not unequivocal and more, properly controlled studies need to be undertaken to clarify this controversy. Muscle hypertrophy results from positive net muscle protein balance, thus, adult males must have greater net muscle protein synthesis than females, at least at some point in development. Although there is a paucity of data, no gender differences in the basal level net muscle protein balance have been found. It is possible that there are small differences that cannot be distinguished with current methods due to small sample sizes and the sensitivity of the methods. It is more likely, however, that sex hormones contribute to the clear differences in musculature by influencing muscle protein metabolism, especially during puberty. Testosterone increases muscle protein synthesis and net muscle protein balance, resulting in increased muscle mass. Males and females have similar amounts of testosterone until puberty, then testosterone levels increase much more dramatically in males, as does muscle mass. Furthermore, although no evidence exists in humans, in-vitro and rat data suggest that ovarian hormones inhibit muscle protein synthesis. Whereas solid conclusions are difficult to make given the paucity of studies focusing on gender differences in human protein metabolism, it seems that the sex hormones may play an important role. Certainly, more studies need to be conducted to ascertain what gender differences in whole body and muscle protein metabolism exist and how these differences result in different phylogenetic characteristics.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Age and gender differences in suicide trends, Wisconsin and the United States, 1980-1994.

A review of suicide rates in Wisconsin and the United States reveals that despite a constant suicide rate between 1980 and 1994, various trends are occurring among different genders, races and age groups. Five-year averages between 1980-84 and 1990-94 show increasing disparity between men's and women's rates. In Wisconsin, the male death rate in 1990-94 was 4.7 times greater than that of women as compared to 3.7 times greater in 1980-84. Suicide rates for Wisconsin women decreased 20% while rates for US women decreased 16%. Whites have greater suicide rates than blacks, but the rates among blacks are increasing. Suicide rates are also increasing among ages 10-19 and over 75. To understand and facilitate change, we must study and learn from groups whose rates are decreasing. By recognizing differences and changes in suicide rates among various groups, those at high risk may be identified and targeted for education, detection and treatment of mental illness.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1976

Early behavioral differences: gender or circumcision?

In human studies, the possible long-term effects on behavior of early physical insult or pharmacological agents have received little attention. We present both circumstantial and direct evidence that circumcision of male infants leads to behavioral changes. In some American studies using circumcised infants, reported gender differences may instead be the result of the altered behavior of circumcised males. We suggest that circumcision requires more study in its own right, and that it requires description if not control in all neonatal and infancy studies.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed2002

Gender differences in panic disorder: findings from the National Comorbidity Survey.

OBJECTIVE: Several epidemiological studies have demonstrated a higher prevalence of panic disorder in women than in men. This study explored whether the prevalence of specific panic symptoms differs by gender. METHOD: National Comorbidity Survey data from 609 respondents who met DSM-III-R criteria for panic disorder or panic attacks were analyzed to test for gender differences across 18 panic symptoms. RESULTS: Among National Comorbidity Survey respondents with panic disorder or panic attacks, female respondents were more likely than male respondents to experience respiration-related difficulties during panic attacks. CONCLUSIONS: Specific symptoms occurring during panic attacks differ by gender. The pathophysiology of these symptom differences may involve gender differences in sensitivity to CO(2) and in the threshold for panic attacks during hypoxic and hypercapnic states.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Left ventricular geometry and function in patients with aortic stenosis: gender differences.

BACKGROUND: Gender differences in cardiac size have been described in normal and pathological conditions in human and animals. Sex determination of a pattern of hypertrophy as a response to pressure overload has not been extensively evaluated and is still poorly understood in humans. METHODS AND RESULTS: To investigate the influence of gender in the left ventricle remodelling and preservation of the left ventricle function 195 adults (140 men and 55 women) with isolated aortic stenosis were evaluated. The mean age was 52 +/- 11 years for men and 53 +/- 13 years for women. All the patients had similar degree of aortic stenosis finally treated with valve replacement, similar clinical status and no signs of coronary artery disease in coronary angiograms. On echocardiography the left ventricle of women had a smaller the end systolic (30.5 +/- 7.8 vs. 39.4 +/- 11.2, P<0.001) and the end diastolic (49.4 +/- 9 vs. 57.3 +/- 11, P<0.001) chamber size. The female left ventricle generated a higher relative wall thickness (0.65 +/- 0.21 vs. 0.52 +/- 0.12, P<0.01), a greater fractional shortening (35.3 +/- 8.5 vs. 32.0 +/- 9.0, P<0.01) and a higher ejection fraction (64.4 +/- 12.7 vs. 57.5 +/- 14.6, P<0.001). The left ventricle posterior wall thickness and the septal thickness indexes were similar in both groups. There were also significant differences between the two groups in the left ventricle mass index. CONCLUSIONS: Gender has an important influence on the left ventricle adaptation pattern to pressure overload due to aortic stenosis. Women developed a greater degree of left ventricle hypertrophy documented as changes in left ventricle geometry (increased relative wall thickness, left ventricular mass) and left ventricle function (fractional shortening and ejection fraction).

Aortic Valve Stenosis↗
PubMed2001

Gender differences in the behavioral responses to cocaine and amphetamine. Implications for mechanisms mediating gender differences in drug abuse.

When ovariectomized female rats receive estrogen, the response to the psychomotor stimulants amphetamine or cocaine is enhanced. Estrous cycle-dependent differences in amphetamine-stimulated behaviors and striatal dopamine release are also noted. Intact female rats exhibit a greater behavioral response to amphetamine on estrus than they do on other days of the cycle. Ovariectomy results in attenuation of amphetamine-induced behavior and the striatal dopamine response to amphetamine. Physiological doses of estrogen given to ovariectomized rats reinstate both of these responses to a level comparable to that in estrous females. Furthermore, a sex difference is noted, in that females tend to exhibit a greater behavioral response to the psychomotor stimulants, and estrogen enhances this sex difference. Repeated treatment with amphetamine or cocaine produces a progressive increase in behavioral responsiveness with subsequent drug administration, a process known as sensitization. In rodents, behavioral sensitization results in increases in both frequency and duration of psychomotor behaviors such as rotational behavior, stereotyped grooming, headbobs, and forelimb movements. Interestingly, females display greater sensitization of behaviors in response to psychomotor stimulants than do males. Previous research results are summarized, and new results are presented, demonstrating that estrogen selectively enhances components of behavior that exhibit sensitization in female rats. Results also indicate gender differences in sensitization independent of gonadal hormones, suggesting that the neural systems that undergo sensitization are sexually dimorphic.

Amphetamine↗