Trauma and violence: are women the weaker sex?

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a response to trauma is repeatedly found to be more common among women than men. This article explores prevalence rates and gender differences. Explanations for this gender bias and examined and the literature on trauma types and resulting PTSD is reviewed. Other disorders that may result from trauma that also have gender biases are considered as a potential way to understand this difference. Risk and resilience can perhaps more appropriately be considered specific to symptom picture rather than merely development of pathology.