APA Blogs
14 Results
Men, Women, and Differing Responses to Stress
Stress affects people in several ways—it activates adrenaline and other hormones, the nervous system and immune system. While not all stress is harmful, and some can even be beneficial, chronic or toxic stress can contribute to health problems. “Men and women react differently to toxic stress because their brains are wired differently,” notes Bruce McEwen, Ph.D., of The Rockefeller University, * “and therefore they may be at risk for different stress-related illnesses.” For example, as a result of chronic stress, women may be more likely to experience symptoms of depression while men may be more likely to develop problems with substance use.
Infertility: The Impact of Stress and Mental Health
Infertility, though often not talked about, is common. An estimated one in eight couples (or 12% of married women) have trouble getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy. There are a range of complex connections between mental health and infertility.
Celebrating Women’s History Month and Resilience
- By Ranna Parekh, M.D., Darcy Gruttadaro, J.D., Sejal Petal, M.P.H.
Women’s History Month highlights the contributions of women to events in history and modern society. Initially a weeklong celebration in 1980, it quickly evolved into a month in 1987 when the nonprofit organization, National Women’s History Project (NWHP) successfully lobbied Congress. Today, Women’s History Month is celebrated during March in the United States and other countries and corresponds with International Women’s Day on March 8. The 2019 theme is “Visionary women: Champions of Peace and Nonviolence.”
Eating Disorders, Weight-Shaming and “Clean” Eating
Eating disorders affect all kinds of people: women, men, young and old and from all racial and ethnic backgrounds. Many factors likely contribute to developing eating disorders, including a range of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors. Having a close relative with an eating disorder or a history of dieting are risk factors. High levels of body image dissatisfaction and setting unrealistically high expectations for oneself (perfectionism) also increase the risk