Survey indicates stress-coping skills vary by age, gender

Skills used to manage stress may differ according to an individual's age and gender, according to results from the Coping Skills Test, released this week by Queendom.com, a website specializing in personality, career and IQ assessments.

When faced with stressful situations, women were found to be more likely than men to seek helpful information and the support of friends. Men were more likely to find ways to relax or an outlet to vent their emotions, such as writing or listening to music.

When it came to negative coping strategies, men were found to be more likely to seek distractions, whereas women were more likely to feel helpless, ruminate excessively or become argumentative.

The use of healthy coping skills, such as seeking information and social support, seems to increase with age, according to survey results.