Collegiate swimmers: sex differences in self-reports and indices of physiological stress.
Psychological and physiological stress indices were taken from collegiate swimmers of both sexes prior to a practice session and prior to a meet. At another time these same individuals were administered a scale to ascertain their relative self-reported masculinity and femininity. Analysis of covariance demonstrated that 14 males had higher systolic blood pressure than 13 females but lower self-reported feelings of anxiety and hostility associated with the stress of competition. Sex differences in relative masculinity and femininity provided the key to interpretation.
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001143:Arousal; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D007062:Identification, Psychological; D008297:Male; D012718:Set, Psychology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D013550:Swimming