Bad news stories in the media increase women’s sensitivity to stress, according to a study by University of Montreal researchers at the Centre for Studies on Human Stress. But men do not suffer from a similar effect.
The researchers believe that evolutionary factors may be at play, with the emphasis on the survival of offspring possibly influencing the evolution of the female stress system, leading women to be more empathetic. This theory would explain why women could be more susceptible to indirect threats.
“It’s difficult to avoid the news, considering the multitude of news sources out there, said lead author Marie-France Marin. What if all that news is bad for us? “It certainly looks like that could be the case,” she said.