WORLD (Enmaeya News) – December 25, 2025

A new study has shown that women are more capable than men of identifying symptoms of illness, which negatively affect appearance and behavior, thereby helping those around them protect themselves from infection, according to the journal Evolution and Human Behavior.

The research involved 280 students, equally divided between men and women, who were asked to evaluate 24 images of different individuals, taken both while they were sick and when they were healthy.

Participants assessed whether the people in the photos appeared ill or lethargic, using six criteria on a 9-point Likert scale, including: safety, health, friendliness, alertness, social engagement, and positivity.

The results indicated that women demonstrated greater sensitivity to illness cues. Although the difference was small, it was statistically significant, helping researchers assess whether a person appeared open to communication, satisfied, or fatigued.

The researchers suggested two potential reasons for this phenomenon:

The role of women as caregivers for children requires the rapid detection of illness signs in young ones.

Women’s tendency to avoid infection due to periods of lowered immunity during reproductive years, including pregnancy and menstruation.

The authors also noted limitations of the study, including the use of a student sample and the lack of analysis of other illness indicators such as voice and body movements, emphasizing that the findings open new avenues for understanding gender differences in recognizing signs of illness.