Gender differences and dynamics of stress response among employees of special services

Context and relevance. The relevance of the study of operational stress in men and women is determined by the lack of research on gender differences in response to operational stress in the context of the growing trend towards gender equality in extreme professional activities. Methods and materials. In an experimental study with two test stages, including stressful audio and video stimuli, the vegetative and central stress response mechanisms were studied in groups of law enforcement officers — 203 men and 125 women. Results. The results showed that in the group of men, when presented with stressors, more pronounced changes in physiological parameters, a high level of activation, a state of increased functional tension of adaptation mechanisms, high involvement of memory mechanisms in processing stimuli were revealed; repeated exposure to stress stimuli leaded to a deficit of functional adaptation resources. In women an optimal functional state during both primary and repeated stressful exposure despite the high level of attention to stressful stimuli was noted, and a high level of recovery processes after both the first and second exposure to stress stimuli was revealed. Conclusion. The results of the study describing gender differences in the dynamics of the functional state under operational stress, including the processes of physiological resource reduction and recovery, are presented.

1. Dzhebrailova, T.D., Korobeynikova, I.I., Karatygina, N.A., Biryukova, E.V., Venerina Y.A. (2021). Dynamics of EEG Spectral Characteristics in Subjects with Various Trait Anxiety Levels Performing Cognitive Tests. Human Physiology, 47(1), 20—30. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31857/S0131164621010033
2. Mikhaylov, V.M. (2023). ECG-controlled stress testing: bicycle ergometry, treadmill test, step test, walking. Ivanovo: Neirosoft. (In Russ.).
3. Yamshchikova, A.V., Fleyshman, A.N., Martynov, I.D. (2023) Evaluation of the severity of autonomic disorders in miners with vibration disease. Hygiene and Sanitation, 102(7), 664—669. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.47470/0016-9900-2023-102-7-664-669
4. Anderson, R.G.S., Di Nota, P.M., Metz, G.A.S., Andersen, J.P. (2019). The Impact of Acute Stress Physiology on Skilled Motor Performance: Implications for Policing. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2501. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02501
5. Baldwin, S., Bennell, C., Andersen, J.P., Semple, T., Jenkins, B. (2019). Stress-Activity Mapping: Physiological Responses During General Duty Police Encounters. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02216
6. Berntson, G.G., Cacioppo, J.T., Quigley, K.S. (1993). Respiratory sinus arrhythmia: Autonomic origins, physiological mechanisms, and psychophysiological implications. Psychophysiology, 30(2), 183—196. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8986.1993.tb01731.x
7. Bertilsson, J., Niehorster, D.C., Fredriksson, P.J., Dahl, M., Granér, S., Fredriksson, O., Mårtensson, J.M., Magnusson, M., Fransson, P.A., Nyström, M. (2020). Towards systematic and objective evaluation of police officer performance in stressful situations. Police Practice and Research, 21(6), 655—669. https://doi.org/10.1080/15614263.2019.1666006
8. Brisinda, D., Fenici, P., Fenici, R. (2024). Police Realistic Tactical Training Is Not Risk-Free: Stress-Induced Wide-QRS Paroxysmal Tachyarrhythmia in a Healthy Police Officer and Professional Athlete. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 39, 93—103. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-023-09616-z
9. De Vries, G.J. (2004). Minireview: Sex Differences in Adult and Developing Brains: Compensation, Compensation, Compensation. Endocrinology, 145(3), 1063—1068. https://doi.org/1210/en.2003-1504
10. Gao, X., Yamazaki, Y., Tezuka,Y., Omata, K., Ono, Y., Morimoto, R., Nakamura, Y., Satoh, F., Sasano, H. (2021). Gender differences in human adrenal cortex and its disorders. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 526, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2021.111177
11. Karimova, E.D., Ovakimian, A.S., Katermin, N.S. (2024). Live vs video interaction: sensorimotor and visual cortical oscillations during action observation. Cerebral Cortex, 34(4), bhae168. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhae168
12. Kvadsheim, E., Sørensen, L., Fasmer, O.B., Osnes, B., Haavik, J., Williams, D.W.P., Thayer, J.F., Koenig, J. (2022). Vagally mediated heart rate variability, stress, and perceived social support: a focus on sex differences. Stress, 25(1), 113—121. https://doi.org/10.1080/10253890.2022.2043271
13. Leistner, C., Menke, A. (2020). Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and stress. Handbook of Clinical Neurology, 175, 55—64. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-444-64123-6.00004-7
14. Lozano-Soldevilla, D. (2018). On the Physiological Modulation and Potential Mechanisms Underlying Parieto-Occipital Alpha Oscillations. Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience, 12, 23. https://doi.org/10.3389/fncom.2018.00023
15. Menashri Sinai, Y., Ma, Y.X.J., Abba Daleski, M., Gannot, S., Bartsch, R.P., Gordon, I. (2024). Unveiling gender differences in psychophysiological dynamics: support for a two-dimensional autonomic space approach. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 18, 1363891. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2024.1363891
16. Rabichuk, S.B., Williamson, L., Frankel, S. (2024). Stress experiences of women in policing: A scoping review. International Journal of Police Science & Management, 27, 1—15. https://doi.org/10.1177/14613557241269477
17. Thayer, J.F., Lane, R.D. (2000). A model of neurovisceral integration in emotion regulation and dysregulation. Journal of Affective Disorders, 61(3), 201—216. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-0327(00)00338-4
18. Violanti, J.M., Charles, L.E., McCanlies, E., Hartley, T.A., Baughman, P., Andrew, M.E., Fekedulegn, D., Ma, C.C., Mnatsakanova, A., Burchfiel, C.M. (2017). Police stressors and health: a state-of-the-art review. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management. 40(4), 642—656. https://doi.org/10.1108/pijpsm-06-2016-0097
19. Wang, J., Korczykowski, M., Rao, H., Fan, Y., Pluta, J., Gur, R.C., McEwen, B.S., Detre, J.A. (2007). Gender difference in neural response to psychological stress. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 2(3), 227—239. https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsm018
20. Xu, Y., Lopez, M. (2018). Central regulation of energy metabolism by estrogens. Molecular Metabolism, 15, 104—115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2018.05.012