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Psychosomatic Medicine 63:545-550 (2001)
© 2001 American Psychosomatic Society

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Sex, Gender, and Blood Pressure: Contributions to Experimental Pain Report

Cynthia D. Myers, PhD, Michael E. Robinson, PhD, Joseph L. Riley, III, PhD and David Sheffield, PhD

From the Division of Public Health Services and Research, Department of Operative Dentistry (C.D.M., J.L.R.), Department of Clinical and Health Psychology (M.E.R.), Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine (D.S.), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Address reprint requests to: Cynthia D. Myers, PhD, Division of Public Health Services and Research, P.O. Box 100404 UFHSC, Gainesville, FL 32610-0404. Email: cynthm{at}ufl.edu

OBJECTIVE: The current study investigated whether the relationship between sex and experimental pain report was explained by systolic blood pressure (SBP) at rest or during pain task, by gender-role socialization as assessed by the Bem Sex Role Inventory, or both. The influence of gender-role socialization on pain report is often inferred but rarely studied.

METHODS: Fifty female and 54 male healthy, young adults completed the Bem Sex Role Inventory and then underwent a cold pressor task. Blood pressure was assessed before and during pain testing.

RESULTS: Univariate analyses indicated significant sex-related differences in pain threshold and pain tolerance. Baseline SBP was positively related to pain tolerance but did not explain sex differences, in accord with previous research. The Bem Sex Role Inventory demonstrated a relationship with pain, but did not explain sex differences.

CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that context-specific measures of gender are needed to assess gender-related pain behaviors in specific situations. Results from the current study support our contention that gender is part of sex as commonly measured. Also, blood pressure does not appear to fully account for sex-related differences in pain.

Key Words: Sex differences • gender role socialization • experimental pain • blood pressure • pain threshold • pain tolerance

Abbreviations: SBP = systolic blood pressure; DBP = diastolic blood pressure; HR = heart rate; BSRI = Bem Sex Role Inventory; FEM = femininity score; MASC = masculinity score.




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