Coping with dysphoria: gender differences in college students.

This study examined gender differences in how college students cope with dysphoria on their own. Thirty-five male and female college students who reported experiencing serious dysphoria within the past year were interviewed about the coping techniques they used. Compared to women, men made greater use of relaxation, self-reward, and situation changes. Men also employed more coping techniques than did women. For women, maintaining a faith in their own improvement was correlated significantly with less dysphoria. For men, experiencing changes in their lives and putting work into the techniques were correlated significantly with less dysphoria. For both sexes, keeping anger in was correlated significantly with more dysphoria.