Science Explains Why Women Get Stressed About a Messy Space Before Men

It’s become a stereotype and a trope in media that women are more bothered by a messy and cluttered space than men, often leading to arguments between couples. As it turns out, there is actually some science behind that.In a post on Instagram this week, the popular social media account Girls shared a rather interesting conclusion from a 2010 UCLA study that found messy spaces spike women’s cortisol levels much more than men.”A UCLA study found that women living in cluttered homes had significantly higher levels of cortisol, the hormone linked to chronic stress. The more stuff visible in their space, the more overwhelmed they felt — and the longer those stress levels stayed elevated throughout the day,” the post read.Cortisol, often referred to as the “stress hormone,” helps the body respond to stress by increasing blood sugar levels, enhancing brain function, and repairing tissues.While women had elevated cortisol levels as a result of messy spaces, men were not affected in nearly the same way.”Meanwhile, men in the same households? Not nearly as affected,” the post continued. “Researchers suggest this may be due to cultural expectations around domestic responsibility — where women are often socialized to notice, manage, or feel guilt over household mess, even when it’s not theirs to fix.”So when it comes to cleaning and tidying habits, men might simply not see the urgency to clean a space that women feel. And based on this study, there is a scientific, chemical reason for that.