Sex differences in psychoneuroendocrine reactions to examination stress

Sex differences in adaptation and coping were studied by comparing neuroendocrine and psychological functions in male and female high-school students during 2--3 hr of routine school work (control condition) and a 6-hr matriculation examination (stress condition). In the control condition sex differences were slight and nonsignificant. During examination stress, the urinary excretion of cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline, and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylethylene glycol (MOPEG or MHPG) increased in both sexes, but to a consistently greater extent in the male group, significantly so for adrenaline and MOPEG. Both sexes performed equally well in the examination, but self-reports showed that feelings of success and confidence were common among males, whereas feelings of discomfort and failure dominated in the female group. High discomfort correlated with poor performance in the males but with good performance in the females.