Gender differences in the experience of risk

Twenty-seven male and 40 female subjects aged between 14 and 16 years old were assessed for differences in mood response to, for them, the novel risk sport activity of abseiling down a rock face. Subjects completed the Telic State Measure and the Stress-Arousal Checklist just before and just after completing the risk activity. Males and females had similar scores on mood scale items with the exception of stress (SACL) on which a significant group effect pre-risk activity, a significant main effect pre- to post-risk activity and a significant group by time of testing interaction were obtained. These results indicated that abseiling down a rock face was a markedly more stressful experience for females than for their male peers.