(2002) sums up findings from several studies that have revealed stronger positive
relationships between the number of daily problems and the cognitive stress assessment
for those who have a high sense of humor, regardless of gender. On the other hand,
Worell (2001) claims that humor can play a more important role in stress relief among
women than men. The presented findings, however, reveal that male managers have a
greater tendency to mitigate the stressful situation through humor than women, as well
as a tendency to actively cope with stress or suppress it by using addictive substances.
In contrast to the male managers, the female managers achieved higher scores in
the CISS factors Emotion-oriented and Social support, as well as in the COPE-b factors
Self-distraction, Denial, Use of emotional support, Use of instrumental support, and
Religion. The results of our analyses suggest that women tend to respond to stress
emotionally, seeking help among their social contacts and in the spiritual sphere, or
they deny the given situation, or try to divert their attention from it through another
activity. Dobreva-Martinova (2002) argues that stress arises from the ambiguity of
roles and leads to dissatisfaction with work. Individual coping skills, workplace
leadership and social support contribute to alleviating this work-related stress. Tamres,
Janicki and Helgeson (2002) found that women tend to use social support and help in
finding the right behavior to cope with stress, which may be a protective factor against
the occurrence of depression and anxiety disorders (Plaisier, de Bruijn, de Graaf, ten
Have, Beekman & Penninx, 2007, Torkelson & Muhonen, 2004).
Some women are more able to handle stressful situations by self-distraction,
passive, or avoidant coping, which can be an effective approach when one is not able
to influence the event (Lazarus & Folkman 1984). Hobfoll and Leiberman (1987) noted
that women with a high self-confidence were better at using social support when under
stress, while those who lack self-confidence interpreted social support as an indication
of personal inadequacy. Other available studies have shown that women often use
different forms of religious and spiritual activities to solve serious personal problems
(Ellison & Taylor 1996) or adversity (Mattis 2002). In another research, women were
more likely than men to pray, eat, or speak with friends and family in order to cope
with stress (Gentry et al. 2007). Matheny, Ashby and Cupp (2005) also found that
women use more adaptive coping strategies than men.
Matud (2004) conducted a similar research to the one presented in this
contribution, studying gender differences in perception of stress and its management,
but on a significantly larger sample of respondents (2816 respondents, of which 1566
were women and 1250 were men). In this research, women scored significantly higher
than men in emotional and avoidant stress coping styles and lower in rational styles
and coping by distancing themselves from the problem. Men have been found to have
more emotional barriers than women, with women suffering from stress more than
men, their stresses being more emotion-oriented than those of men. In the presented
- 907 -