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Published:11/01/2010

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Don’t Be So Defensive

By Melaina Juntti

Better put your dukes down, ladies. Canadian researchers found that women who became defensive in response to stress-inducing tasks showed more signs of stress—higher blood pressure, quicker heart rate, elevated cortisol levels—than those who did not. Contrarily, getting defensive—defined as denying, avoiding, or repressing information deemed threatening—actually relieved stress in men. So while it may do your stressed-out man good to get assertive or even angry temporarily, you should try meditating or talking a brisk walk when feeling anxious or edgy.

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