Gender Differences in the Degree of Complaints and Frequency of Subjective Symptoms of Fatigue and Relationships among Their Domains in High School Students

Abstract

Purpose: A previous study examining subjective symptoms of fatigue (SSF) suggested the existence of a gender difference and reported that the SSF complaint level of females was higher than of males. However, investigations into the degree and frequency of SSF complaints have not been carried out in detail. The purpose of this research was to survey high school students in order to examine gender differences in the degree SSF complaints, the frequency of SSF, and the relationships between domains as represented by subscales. Methods: The questionnaire surveyed male and female students between 15 and 18 years of age;2,980 effective replies were obtained. The questionnaire obtained data regarding personal information (school name, grade, course, age and gender), the Subjective Fatigue Scale for Young Adults (SFS-Y) and lifestyle. Student's t tests and confirmatory factor analysis using the structural equation model (SEM) were applied to males and females, respectively, to determine the gender differences in subjective symptoms of fatigue. Multi-group simultaneous analysis by SEM examined the gender difference in relationships between factors. Results: It was found that there were significant gender differences in the degree of SSF complaints in five domains, with the exception of "reduced motivation," and that females had higher scores than males in each of those sub-scales. Significant gender differences in correlation coefficients for frequency of SSF complaints were found in four domains, with "languor" and "reduced motivation" being exceptions. Females had higher scores than males in each of the sub-scales. Gender differences between 15 combinations of the 6 domains were recognized in 8 sets with regard to degree and 2 sets with regard to frequency, with the relationships being greater for males. Conclusions: The relationships among SSF sub-scales are probably not the major cause of gender difference. Since the gender difference in SSF complaints is not derived from the perception of subjective symptoms, it may be associated with physiological susceptibility or cognitive appraisal.