Research Methods

Submitted by

Romaisa Zulfiqar Kanwar

BS Semester V

BS(R)-CP01F22

Submitted to

Dr. Humaira Naz

CENTRE FOR CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

UNIVERSITY OF THE PUNJAB, LAHORE

 Married women experience a higher intensity of psychosomatic symptoms than married

men.

Introduction:

Marriage is an important part of many people's lives. It brings joy, companionship, and

shared responsibilities. But alongside the happiness, marriage can also bring challenges that

affect both mental and physical health. For some people, the stress of marriage can cause

psychosomatic symptoms—physical problems that happen because of emotional stress. These

can include headaches, stomach issues, back pain, and more.

Research has shown that married women may experience these symptoms more strongly

than married men. The reasons for this are complex and involve different social, cultural, and

biological factors. This introduction will explore why married women may feel more

psychosomatic symptoms than married men. We will look at the different roles, expectations,

and pressures that men and women face in marriage.

What Are Psychosomatic Symptoms?

Before understanding how marriage affects people's health, it is important to know what

psychosomatic symptoms are. The word "psychosomatic" means "mind and body."

Psychosomatic symptoms are physical problems that are caused by emotional or mental stress.

These symptoms are not caused by a disease or injury, but they are very real to the person

experiencing them. Some common psychosomatic symptoms include headaches, stomach aches,

tiredness, and back pain. They often happen when a person feels stressed, anxious, or upset.

Marriage and Gender Differences

 Marriage is different for men and women because of the different roles they are expected

to play. From a young age, people are taught what is expected of them based on their gender.

These expectations can affect how men and women experience stress and deal with challenges in

their marriages.

Gender Roles and Expectations

For many women, marriage means taking on several roles, such as being a wife, mother,

caregiver, and homemaker. These roles can be very demanding, both physically and emotionally.

Women may have to balance household chores, taking care of children, and working. This can be

overwhelming and cause stress, which may lead to physical symptoms like headaches or stomach

issues.

Men, on the other hand, are often expected to be the main breadwinners and provide

financially for the family. While this is also a big responsibility, men are generally not expected

to take on as many household or caregiving tasks. This means that men may not face the same

level of stress as women, at least in terms of household duties.

Emotional Labor and Unpaid Work

Another reason why married women may experience more psychosomatic symptoms is

the emotional work they do in the family. "Emotional labor" refers to the work of managing

emotions for others. In many marriages, women do most of this emotional work, such as making

sure their family members feel happy, supported, and cared for. This can be draining, especially

when the emotional labor goes unrecognized.

 Women also tend to do more unpaid work around the house, such as cleaning, cooking,

and taking care of the children. These tasks can be physically exhausting, leaving little time for

women to rest or care for themselves. The constant pressure to meet expectations, both personal

and social, can build up over time and lead to psychosomatic symptoms like headaches, back

pain, and tiredness.

Social Support and Coping Mechanisms

Women also face challenges when it comes to getting help and support. In many cultures,

women are expected to care for others, often putting their own needs last. Because of this, they

may feel guilty or selfish if they ask for help. This guilt can add to their stress and worsen the

physical symptoms they experience.

Men, on the other hand, are often expected to be independent and strong. This can mean

that they are less likely to talk about their problems or seek help. While men do experience stress

in marriage, they may express it in different ways, such as keeping it inside or dealing with it

privately.

Biological Factors

There are also biological reasons why women may experience more psychosomatic

symptoms than men. Studies show that women are more sensitive to stress hormones, which may

make them more likely to have physical symptoms from emotional stress. Women also go

through hormonal changes during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, which can affect

their mood and physical health. These changes can make women more vulnerable to

psychosomatic symptoms, especially when they are dealing with stress in their marriage.
Literally Review:

Research over the past decade has highlighted significant gender differences in how men

and women experience psychosomatic symptoms and marital happiness. These studies suggest

that societal expectations, gender roles, and the psychological and emotional burdens placed on

women contribute to the intensity of psychosomatic symptoms in married women, while men

generally report greater marital happiness and fewer stress-related physical symptoms. This

paper will explore these differences in detail, referencing various studies that have examined the

relationship between psychosomatic health and marriage.

Psychosomatic Symptoms in Women

Psychosomatic symptoms—physical issues caused by emotional or psychological

stress—are common in both men and women, but research shows that married women often

experience them more intensely. One main reason for this difference is the societal expectations

placed on women, especially in marriage. Haug et al. (2015) found that women often report

higher stress levels due to the challenge of balancing work, family, and household duties. This

constant juggling can lead to emotional strain, which often shows up as physical problems like

headaches, fatigue, and stomach issues.

Another study by Gündel et al. (2018) found that women are more likely to internalize

stress, causing physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach pain, and tiredness. In contrast,

men may show stress in more external ways, like anger or irritability. According to Piccinelli and

Wilkinson (2018), women often have the added responsibility of being caregivers and emotional

support for their families, which can lead to exhaustion and more frequent psychosomatic

symptoms.
 Hormonal changes also play a role in the increased psychosomatic symptoms in women.

Research by Kuehner (2017) suggests that fluctuations in hormones during menstruation,

pregnancy, and menopause can make women more prone to emotional stress, which can worsen

physical symptoms. The stress response in women is often stronger than in men, likely due to

both hormonal and social factors, making women more vulnerable to the effects of stress.

Marital Happiness and Gender Differences

While women tend to experience higher levels of psychosomatic symptoms, studies show

that married men generally report more happiness in their marriages. Frey and Stutzer (2014)

found that men get more emotional support from their marriages, which contributes to their

higher levels of well-being. Men often face fewer emotional burdens related to family and

household duties, which helps them feel more satisfied in their marriages.

On the other hand, women usually carry more emotional responsibility. They not only

manage their personal and professional lives but also take care of their spouse’s and children’s

emotional needs. This imbalance can leave women feeling stressed and less happy in their

marriages.

Dolan et al. (2016) found that men often view their roles in marriage as less stressful,

which leads to greater satisfaction. In contrast, women feel more pressure from societal

expectations and are expected to prioritize others, which can reduce their happiness. Holman et

al. (2017) also noted that societal norms give men more freedom in their marriages, allowing

them to focus on their own needs, while women often put others first, leading to less satisfaction.
Independent Variable (IV):

Gender and Marital Role (categorized as "Married Women" and "Married Men").

Dependent Variable (DV):

Intensity of Psychosomatic Symptoms (measured through self-reported scales or clinical

assessments focusing on symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and stomachaches).

These variables frame the research by linking gender differences in marital roles to their

impact on psychosomatic symptom levels.

Problem Statement

Despite the growing awareness of gender differences in mental health, there is limited

focus on how these differences affect psychosomatic symptoms among married individuals.

Understanding why married women report higher intensity of these symptoms compared to men

can help develop targeted interventions to reduce their burden.

Objectives

To explore the differences in the intensity of psychosomatic symptoms between married women

and married men.

To identify factors contributing to higher psychosomatic symptom reporting in married women.

To understand the role of emotional and social factors in gender-specific experiences of

psychosomatic symptoms.

Hypothesis
H1: Married women experience a higher intensity of psychosomatic symptoms than married

men due to greater emotional sensitivity, social pressures, and caregiving responsibilities.

H0:There is no significant difference in the intensity of psychosomatic symptoms between

married women and married men.