Gender differences in experiencing occupational stress: the role of age, education and marital status

Studies investigating gender differences over the past two decades have produced contradictory results, with some to indicate no differences, and some suggesting that either men or women experience more psychological stress. In this study, we examine gender differences in occupational stress, taking into consideration the role of marital status, age and education. Results from a sample of 2775 professionals suggest that women experience higher levels of occupational stress than men. Nevertheless, when marital status, age and education were introduced in the equation, no significant gender differences were identified. Implications and future research directions are discussed. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.