Influence of gender, masculinity, and femininity on the effectiveness of three stress reduction techniques: Jogging, relaxation response, and group interaction

Abstract

The relationships of gender and gender-role to the effectiveness of three stress reduction techniques, jogging, the relaxation response, and group interaction, were examined. Students were either randomly assigned to a stress reduction technique (n = 280) or assigned to a no-treatment control group (n = 107). After initial testing which included the Bem Sex Role inventory, students completed the Profile of Mood States before and after technique practice sessions during a 12-w-eek period. MANOVA's with repeated measures indicated that gender and psychological masculinity, but not femininity, were related to technique effectiveness. High masculinity male and female joggers reported significantly more mood improvement than those who were low. Gender and masculinity were related to the effectiveness of Benson's relaxation response. Women, independent of masculinity, and high masculinity men reported benefits after the relaxation response. Women benefitted more from group interaction than men. Both gender and masculinity were differentially related to the effectiveness of jogging, relaxation response and group interaction.