managers only in one of its factors – Positive reframing. In the rest of the surveyed
factors, no statistically significant differences were recorded.
These results testify to the fact that managers have a greater tendency to cope with
stress by focusing on the task and tackling the problem, while non-managers tend to
react to stress emotionally, resolve the demanding situation by seeking support among
their social contacts, or deliberately avoid the solution. They often focus their attention
on any other activity that can mitigate the demanding situation, but does not actively
solve the problem.
CONCLUSION
The results obtained by the two above research studies confirmed the existence of
statistically significant differences between the male and the female managers, as well
as between managers and non-managerial workers in assessing the coping factors of
the CISS and COPE-b methodologies.
According to a number of previously conducted studies (e.g. Conway, Wood,
Dugas & Pushkar 2003; Krajewski & Goffin 2005, and others), differences in the styles
of coping with demanding, stressful situations between men and women could be
identified. Since men and women are seemingly exposed to different kinds of stress,
they require different coping strategies. Krajewski and Goffin (2005) argue that men
and women assess different situations on the basis of socialization, with women
displaying less sense of personal control over their lives than men. Because of the lack
of predictability and control, women may have fewer opportunities to successfully cope
with stress.
On the basis of the results obtained in the presented research, it is possible to state
that regarding the assessment of the behavior of male and female managers in
demanding situations, the male managers achieved higher scores than the female
managers in the COPE-b factors of Active coping, Substance use (Mann-Whitney U-
test result) and Humor. Part of these findings corresponds to the claims made by
Lindquist, Beilin and Knuiman (1997) in their study. The authors found that men are
more likely to use maladaptive stress coping strategies, such as alcohol consumption
and unhealthy eating habits. Degenhardt et al. (2008) have produced similar results
confirming that work-related stress is strongly associated with a negative effort to
manage it. In a stressful situation, men often seek ways to self-heal, turning to drugs,
alcohol, and nicotine use. This explains the efforts of the male managers to actively
cope with stress on the one hand, but to handle it in this negative way on the other.
Wilsnack et al. (2000) report the findings from the research on gender and drug
use which have shown that men generally consume more alcohol than women and are
more likely than women to use illicit drugs to cause problems in several areas of work
as well as private life. Regarding the strategy of using humor to relieve stress, Abel
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