Recently, researchers have been examining how the effects of trauma differ between men and women. We will talk about these findings below.
Before we begin any discussion about the effects of trauma, it is important to remind ourselves that healing and resilience are possible. Many factors can prevent these effects from occurring in the first place, and many factors can lead to their healing if they have occurred.
Our purpose here is to learn about potential ways trauma can adversely impact people, so that we can then use this knowledge to create trauma-informed, healing ministries.
If you begin to feel overwhelmed at any point when reading this article, please pause and seek guidance from a trained mental health professional, a trusted friend, or a mentor.
Trauma’s Effects on Women’s Friendships
Trauma can more negatively impact women’s friendships than men’s friendships.
For example, research has found that experiencing trauma can lead to a decrease in a person’s number of friendships, and this effect can be more substantial in women (1).
Additionally, women are more likely than men to report never or rarely being helped after first experiencing trauma (2).
They are also more likely to seek social support after trauma to try to cope with it and tend to have more negative effects from trauma if they are unable to find it (3).
Overall, these findings show that women need social support when recovering from trauma, but can find it challenging to find that support, which can ripple out to cause other troubles as a result of trauma.
PTSD in Women
Women are two to three times more likely than men to develop PTSD following exposure to trauma, and they also tend to experience more severe symptoms than men (3). Researchers have proposed some explanations for this finding.
First, women are more likely than men to experience high-impact trauma, such as sexual assault and adverse childhood experiences, which are more likely to lead to PTSD (3). Additionally, women appear to be more likely to develop PTSD after certain types of trauma. Specifically, they are more likely than men to develop PTSD after experiencing a natural disaster, accident, loss, or disease (4).
Second, women are specifically more likely to have flashbacks about their trauma than men, which is a symptom of PTSD. One reason this may be the case is that progesterone, a female sex hormone, is used to create stress hormones, which make the brain more likely to remember highly emotional memories. These highly emotional memories are the basis for these flashbacks (5).
Conclusion: Trauma and Gender
In conclusion, women appear more likely than men to experience some adverse effects of trauma, especially the negative effects on friendships and PTSD.
There is hope for healing and resilience following exposure to trauma. If you suspect that you or someone you know is suffering from these adverse effects of trauma, please visit the healing resources page to begin your healing journey.