Gender differences in health behaviors: The role of avoidant coping

The present study examined whether gender differences in health behaviors can be partly explained by gender differences in avoidant coping. One-hundred and thirty-three college undergraduate students responded to a coping questionnaire to assess cognitive avoidance. In addition, participants completed measures of health -behaviors. Generally women scored higher than men on self-care, vehicle safety, and drug avoidance, but not on physical exercise and healthy nutrition. Women exhibited lower cognitive avoidance than men. Gender differences in vehicle safety and drug avoidance were due to men who scored high on cognitive avoidance. Considering the nature of the different health behaviors examined, it is conceivable that some are more instrumental than others with respect to self-enhancement. For instance, reckless driving and excessive alcohol consumption may be perceived as self-enhancing by highly avoidant men.