Gender differences in stress symptoms have been a topic of recent interest. This study investigated stress symptoms in young adults in relation to sex and school year. One hundred and fifty female and 145 male students, age 15 to 28, were the participants. They were recruited from freshman and senior high school classes, preparatory school for college, and the first and fourth year of a college in São Paulo. The Lipp Stress Symptom Inventory was used to evaluate self perceived stress. Results indicated a high correlation between gender and level of stress (p<0,0001). Women compared to men had more symptoms. Students in the preparatoy school class had the highest incidence of stress, followed by high school seniors. Students had a higher number of psychological symptoms and the most frequently mentioned were excessive emotional sensitivity for the female participants, and recurrent thoughts for the male students.
Stress; gender; age
