There is a widespread belief that hormonal fluctuations affect women’s moods. However, women are not more emotional than men, which calls into question their exclusion from many clinical trials on this ground.
- A study looked at the difference in emotionality between women and men.
- The results showed that there was no gender difference, with hormonal fluctuations playing no role.
- Women should not be excluded from certain clinical trials on the grounds of altered emotions.
We regularly hear that women are more emotional than men. Feelings like enthusiasm, nervousness or strength are often associated with one gender rather than another. A study by researchers at the University of Michigan and published in the journal Scientific Reports goes against this prejudice and asserts that men experience the same emotional fluctuation as women.
Different perspectives of emotions
Researchers have attempted to determine what it means for men to be emotional in relation to women. “For example, a man whose emotions fluctuate during a sporting event is considered ‘passionate’, but a woman whose emotions change due to an event, even if provoked, is considered ‘irrational’.”, explains Adriene Beltz, professor of psychology and lead author of the study.
In the study, 142 men and women were followed for 75 days to assess their daily positive and negative emotions. The women were divided into four groups: the first group did not use hormonal contraceptives and the other three groups took them in different forms.
Hormones have no influence on emotions
Scientists have detected changes in emotions in three different ways. Then they compared these fluctuations by sex and found little difference between men and different groups of women, although the factors that triggered these changes were different. “We also found no significant differences between groups of women, making it clear that emotional highs and lows are due to many influences, not just hormones.”, says Adriene Beltz
