1 psychology 320: psychology of gender and sex differences march 10 lecture 53

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Psychology 320: Psychology of Gender and Sex Differences

March 10

Lecture 53

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Office Hour InvitationsMarch 14, 11:30-2:30, Kenny 3102

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Announcements

1. The grades for the February exam are now available on the course website. The mean score was

68% (SD = 15%, range = 16% – 93%).

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2. The TAs are available during their office hours or by appointment to meet with you to review your exam:

Jonathan (TA for students with last names A-Q):E-mail address: jonathan@psych.ubc.caOffice hours: Wednesdays, 12:00-1:00, Kenny 2011

Pavel (TA for students with last names R-Z):E-mail address: pavelkozik@gmail.comOffice Hours: Mondays, 12:00-1:00, Kenny 3508

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1. Paper:

Topic due date: March 17 (Option A or B, 3-5 sentence summary; e-mail to your TA for approval).

Paper due date: March 31.

Questions?

Reminders

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2. CSL Students: As noted in the CSL supplementary syllabus, the final date on which AL journal entries will

be accepted is Friday, April 4.

Four journal entries should be submitted. Each journal entry must be submitted in a distinct week.

A little R&R ….(Review and Reflect)

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Physical Health:

2. What factors account for sex differences in health?

1. Are there sex differences in mortality and morbidity? (continued)

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1. describe the developmental trajectory associated with sex differences in morbidity.

2. discuss the relationship between sex differences in morbidity and gender equality.

By the end of today’s class, you should be able to:

3. discuss sex differences in illness-related behaviour.

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4. review biological factors that may contribute to sex differences in mortality and morbidity.

6. discuss the relationship between health and (a) estrogen levels and (b) testosterone levels.

5. define the term X-linked recessive disorder.

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Sex differences in morbidity are smaller in countries with a relatively high Gender Development Index.

Are there sex differences in mortality and morbidity? (continued)

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Torsheim et al., 2006

Assessed health complaints among 125,732 adolescents aged 11-15 in 29 countries in Europe and North America. In all countries, girls reported more health complaints than boys:

Age Low GDI Medium GDI High GDI

11-year-olds 1.56 1.17 1.18

13-year-olds 1.88 1.70 1.56

15-year-olds 2.27 1.91 1.88

Odds Ratio of Females Reporting More Health Symptoms than Males*

(Torsheim et al., 2006)

*Odds ratio: Higher numbers indicate that more females than males reported symptoms.

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Sex differences are smaller in countries with a relatively high Gender Development Index.

Relationship Between GDI and Female/Male Odds Ratio of Health Complaints Among 11-

Year-Olds (Torsheim et al., 2006)

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Females report more illness-related behaviour than males: days in bed due to illness, use of prescription drugs, restriction of activities, use of health care

services.

In childhood, illness behaviour is greater among males than females. The sex difference reverses in

adolescence, with females reporting greater illness behaviour (Helgeson, 2013).

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Utilization of Health Care Services by Females and Males (National Center for Health

Statistics, 2004; also see Statistics Canada, 2011)

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What factors account for sex differences in health?

• There are three groups of factors that account for the documented sex differences in health:

Biological factors. Health behaviours. Gender-related factors.

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1. Biological Factors

(a) Genes

XX vs. XY: Having a second X chromosome suppresses the expression of many diseases among

females.

Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome

Menkes Disease

Haemophilia 19

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(b) Hormones

Estrogen:

Prior to menopause, the relatively high levels of estrogen among females appear to serve as a protective factor against heart disease.

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After menopause, hormone (e.g., estrogen) replacement therapy is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, breast cancer, and blood clots (Lowe, 2004; Roberts, 2009; Shumaker et al., 2003).

Estrogen-based oral contraceptives increase blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood glucose levels.

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Testosterone:

Midrange levels associated with the greatest health benefits (e.g., Booth et al., 1999; Freedman et al., 1991; Wang et al., 1996):

Reduced odds of:high blood pressure.heart attack.obesity.influenza.

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High levels associated with risk-taking behaviour (e.g., Booth et al., 1999):

Increased odds of:sexually-transmitted diseases.smoking.alcohol and other drug use.injuries.

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(c) Immune System

Females display greater immune responses to infection than males (Bouman et al., 2004; Rieker &

Bird, 2005; Whitacre et al., 1999).

Females have higher immunoglobulin levels than males (Schuurs & Verheul, 1990).

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1. describe the developmental trajectory associated with sex differences in morbidity.

2. discuss the relationship between sex differences in morbidity and gender equality.

By the end of today’s class, you should be able to:

3. discuss sex differences in illness-related behaviour.

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4. review biological factors that may contribute to sex differences in mortality and morbidity.

6. discuss the relationship between health and (a) estrogen levels and (b) testosterone levels.

5. define the term X-linked recessive disorder.