GENDER DIFFERENCE IN HASSLES AND SYMPTOM REPORTING AMONG HONG-KONG ADOLESCENTS

Gender differences in hassles and symptom reports were studied in a sa mple of Hong Kong high school students consisting of 127 boys and 135 girls. Compared with boys, girls reported more hassles, negative affec t, and physical symptoms, and fewer positive emotions. The association between hassles and reports of physical symptoms was stronger in girl s than boys. Although a stronger stress-symptom relationship has been observed in girls in Western studies, this was restricted to psycholog ical rather than physical symptomatology. These differences may stem f rom the stronger tendency for Chinese adolescents, Compared to their W estern counterparts, to present psychological distress in physical ter ms. Implications of these findings for future research on hassles and health in Hong Kong adolescents are discussed.