Household chaos…mental noise raises the stress hormone in women

A recent study conducted by the CELF Center at the University of California revealed a close connection between the density of household items and high levels of the hormone cortisol in women specifically. The results showed that women see material chaos as pending tasks that drain their mental energy, while men in the same environments maintain more stable levels of stress as a result of different perceptions and associating the home with a place for rest, not work.

Experts explain this disparity with the phenomenon of “messy blindness” in men, resulting from neural programming and socialization that makes women view the home as an extension of themselves and a “second workspace,” which turns every unorganized object into a “mental load” and a pending decision awaiting resolution.

This pressure is exacerbated by social expectations that link a woman’s value to the cleanliness of her home, which generates “domestic shame” and a constant state of alert that prevents her from relaxing physically and mentally.

To reduce this biological stress, specialists recommend adopting practical strategies that go beyond individual effort, such as involving all family members in responsibilities, activating the rule of “immediate return” of things to their place, and getting rid of the surplus that has not been used for a whole year.