Exercise: A Strong Ally for Women's Stress Relief

Women and men both feel stress, but a recent study shows that women can gain more from exercise to reduce stress. The study looked at almost 17, 000 adults in the U. S. and found that women who exercised for 30 minutes at least six days a week felt much less stress than those who didn't exercise. For women, the drop in stress was big. About 56% of women who didn't exercise felt a lot of stress. But for women who exercised daily, that number went down to 45%. That's a 20% lower chance of feeling stressed. Men also felt less stress when they exercised, but the difference was smaller. Only 3% fewer men felt stressed when they worked out daily compared to those who didn't.Why is this? Researchers think it's because women often start with higher stress levels. So, when they exercise, they have more room to improve. Age also played a role. Younger women (18 to 44) who exercised felt less stress than those who didn't. Older women over 65 also felt less stress when they exercised. But older men didn't see much change in their stress levels, no matter if they exercised or not. Exercise helps the body by reducing cortisol, the stress hormone, and increasing "feel-good" chemicals like dopamine and endorphins. Women also tend to exercise with friends or in groups, which adds social support and can help reduce anxiety. Better sleep from exercise might also play a role, as women often struggle more with sleep than men. Both men and women reported high stress levels, but the trend was clear: The more days someone exercised, the less stress they felt. So, if you're looking to reduce stress, especially if you're a woman, hitting the gym or going for a walk might be a good idea.