Differences in stress levels, stressors, and stress responses between managerial and professional males and females on the stress vector analysis‐research edition

This study was to compare differences in stress levels, stress responses, and Stressors between male and female managers, executives, and professionals in Shreveport, Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana, Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Houston, Texas. A self‐administered 467‐item questionnaire with multiple‐choice and true/false format (Stress Vector Analysis—Research Edition) was the method of data collection. The tests were computer‐scored. The subscale scores were analyzed using analysis of variance. Male versus female Stressor strength comparisons were done by i‐test. Women in the sample reported a higher overall level of stress, and their Stressors appeared to be primarily familial, not job‐related. Managerial, executive, and professional women responded to stress with more reported illness, medical consultations, work loss, medication usage, and mental health consultations. They indicated greater incidence of mental problems, stress‐related disorders, and positive family histories for stress‐related disorders. There were indications that female managers, executives, and professionals were more self‐critical about their appearance and more likely to be attempting habit change than their male peers. Managerial, executive, and professional men consumed more alcohol, showed more of a few Type A behavioral traits, and had a greater frequency of hypertension than their female counterparts.