Which group is more likely to develop a stress disorder?

Which group is more likely to develop a stress disorder?

• A. Men
• B. Women
• C. Children
• D. Older adults

Answer: (B)

Women are more likely to develop a stress disorder after experiencing trauma. This higher risk persists even when accounting for how often different genders experience traumatic events, and it shows up in population studies where lifetime PTSD prevalence is roughly double in women compared with men. Several factors help explain this pattern. The types of trauma women more often encounter, such as sexual assault and interpersonal violence, carry particularly strong PTSD risk. Biological factors, including hormonal influences on stress responses and fear learning, may also make women more vulnerable to developing PTSD after trauma. In addition, psychosocial factors—such as differences in coping styles, social support, and willingness to report symptoms—can contribute to the observed higher prevalence in women. Children can develop PTSD too, but overall rates are lower than in adults; older adults do not show higher rates simply due to age, though trauma exposure and symptom presentation can vary with aging.

Women are more likely to develop a stress disorder after experiencing trauma. This higher risk persists even when accounting for how often different genders experience traumatic events, and it shows up in population studies where lifetime PTSD prevalence is roughly double in women compared with men.

Several factors help explain this pattern. The types of trauma women more often encounter, such as sexual assault and interpersonal violence, carry particularly strong PTSD risk. Biological factors, including hormonal influences on stress responses and fear learning, may also make women more vulnerable to developing PTSD after trauma. In addition, psychosocial factors—such as differences in coping styles, social support, and willingness to report symptoms—can contribute to the observed higher prevalence in women.

Children can develop PTSD too, but overall rates are lower than in adults; older adults do not show higher rates simply due to age, though trauma exposure and symptom presentation can vary with aging.