"Gender differences in psychophysiological responses to stress and academic performance: The role of sleep, anxiety, and Heart Rate Variability"

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q2 BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Physiology & Behavior Pub Date : 2025-05-28 DOI:10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.114970

Juan Camilo Benítez-Agudelo , Dayana Restrepo , Vicente Javier Clemente-Suárez

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

The prevalence of stress among university students has become a significant public health concern, with gender differences in psychophysiological responses remaining understudied. This study examined how gender influences stress-related factors and their association with academic performance.

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 601 Colombian university students (74.7 % women, aged 15–47). Participants completed online questionnaires assessing sleep habits, personality traits (Big Five Inventory), anxiety (STAI), psychological inflexibility (AAQ-II), solitude (UCLA), perceived stress (PSS-4), and depression (Zung Scale). Heart rate variability (HRV) was measured via ECG to evaluate autonomic function. Academic performance was quantified using GPAs (1–5 scale). Independent t-tests and multiple linear regression analyses were performed.

Results

Women exhibited significantly higher levels of neuroticism (p = 0.01), anxiety (p = 0.01), psychological inflexibility (p = 0.01), and perceived stress (p = 0.01) compared to their male counterparts. Regression analyses revealed gender-specific patterns: in women, academic success was predicted by longer sleep duration (B = 0.08, p = 0.01), moderate anxiety levels (B = 0.03, p = 0.01), and sympathetic activation (LFnu: B = 0.01, p = 0.01; R²=26 %). In men, poorer performance correlated with autonomic dysregulation (higher HR: B=-0.01, p = 0.04; lower PNN50: B=-0.01, p = 0.01; R²=30 %). Notably, no significant gender differences emerged in HRV parameters or sleep measures.

Conclusions

This study reveals a paradox: women maintained strong academic performance despite higher stress levels, potentially due to adaptive stress responses (moderate sympathetic activation). In contrast, men's performance was more affected by physiological dysregulation. While these findings suggest gender-divergent stress pathways, longitudinal research with direct emotion regulation measures is needed. The results underscore the value of gender-tailored interventions in academia.

查看原文本刊更多论文

对压力和学习成绩的心理生理反应的性别差异：睡眠、焦虑和心率变异性的作用

大学生压力的普遍存在已成为一个重要的公共卫生问题，而心理生理反应的性别差异仍未得到充分研究。本研究考察了性别如何影响压力相关因素及其与学习成绩的关系。方法对601名哥伦比亚大学生进行横断面研究，其中74.7%为女性，年龄15-47岁。参与者完成了在线问卷，评估睡眠习惯、人格特征（大五人格量表）、焦虑（STAI）、心理不灵活性（AAQ-II）、孤独（UCLA）、感知压力（PSS-4）和抑郁（Zung量表）。通过心电图测量心率变异性（HRV）来评估自主神经功能。学业成绩采用gpa（1-5分制）进行量化。进行独立t检验和多元线性回归分析。结果女性的神经质（p = 0.01）、焦虑（p = 0.01）、心理不灵活（p = 0.01）和感知压力（p = 0.01）水平显著高于男性。回归分析揭示了性别差异模式：在女性中，较长的睡眠时间（B = 0.08, p = 0.01）、中度焦虑水平（B = 0.03, p = 0.01）和交感神经激活(LFnu: B = 0.01, p = 0.01；R²= 26%)。在男性中，较差的表现与自主神经失调相关(较高的HR: B=-0.01, p = 0.04；低PNN50: B=-0.01, p = 0.01；R²= 30%)。值得注意的是，在HRV参数或睡眠测量中没有出现明显的性别差异。这项研究揭示了一个悖论：尽管压力水平较高，但女性的学习成绩仍然很好，这可能是由于适应性压力反应（适度的交感神经激活）。相比之下，男性的表现更容易受到生理失调的影响。虽然这些发现表明了性别差异的压力途径，但需要直接情绪调节措施的纵向研究。研究结果强调了针对性别的干预措施在学术界的价值。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Physiology & Behavior 医学-行为科学

CiteScore

5.70

自引率

3.40%

发文量

274

审稿时长

47 days

期刊介绍： Physiology & Behavior is aimed at the causal physiological mechanisms of behavior and its modulation by environmental factors. The journal invites original reports in the broad area of behavioral and cognitive neuroscience, in which at least one variable is physiological and the primary emphasis and theoretical context are behavioral. The range of subjects includes behavioral neuroendocrinology, psychoneuroimmunology, learning and memory, ingestion, social behavior, and studies related to the mechanisms of psychopathology. Contemporary reviews and theoretical articles are welcomed and the Editors invite such proposals from interested authors.