Women are more stressed on Wednesdays. Here’s why.
- “Women are twice as likely to suffer from psychological distress, such as anxiety and depression, as men,” according to the researchers.
- Cortisol levels are not directly related to mental health status but are modulated by diet and lifestyle factors.
Studying the different determinants of psychological distress, this is what researchers from the State University of New York, in Binghamton (United States), have done in a study published in the journal The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health June 8. To complete their work, the team looked at the role of diet quality, time of week and physical fitness on the stress hormone cortisol, and how they are linked to mood and psychological distress.
A total of 336 files from 48 students were analyzed by the authors. The students reported their food intake for three days and completed two different mood questionnaires, one on Wednesday and the other on Saturday. The saliva of the participants was collected before and after a sports session for the extraction of cortisol.
Schedule breaks
The authors found that on Wednesday, the women were more stressed. During this day, volunteers who had negative thoughts were more likely to experience psychological distress, but the likelihood of these emotions remaining high decreased during their free time, such as on Saturdays and Sundays. According to the researchers, the study suggests that people with high levels of psychological distress should consider taking a break.
According to the participants, those who practiced regular physical activity were more likely to relax more quickly. Also, physical exertion played a role in improving mood during weekends.
“Delegating tasks sometimes helps”
“Women tend to juggle multiple responsibilities and do multiple things at once because their brain can do it, but this adds to their psychological distress. Therefore, knowing that taking frequent breaks can improve their mental well-being can save them from having to resort to medication”, said Lina Begdache, author of the research, in a statement.
“I know myself, as a woman who juggles many responsibilities, that sometimes it’s easier said than done, but by making an effort to take breaks, it can often be achieved. Delegating tasks tasks or prioritizing sometimes helps”she added.