Sex differences in psychological and psychophysiological arousal patterns: a study of ‘working couples’

A pilot study of six couples, in which both partners had jobs outside the home, was carried out to examine the impact of ‘dual task-dual role’ status on the female relative to the male partner. Psychological well-being and adrenomedullary functioning were monitored in ‘at home’ and ‘outside the home’ work situations. Results showed that females' adrenomedullary activity remained high across both situations, while males' ‘at home’ levels for the ‘Late’ Saturday and ‘Early’ and ‘Late’ Sunday periods were significantly lower than their ‘outside the home’ midweek levels. Males' and females' ‘outside the home’ levels and ‘Late’ Sunday ‘at home’ levels did not differ significantly, but females had significantly higher levels of adrenomedullary activity than males on the ‘Late’ Saturday and ‘Early’ Sunday periods. Differences in self-rated positive and negative mood were not significant either within or between groups. The implication of these trends for research on sex differences in stress is discussed.