Why might women be somewhat more likely to have posttraumatic stress disorder than men?

Traumatic stress disorders result from one's inability to cope with psychologically tragic events and their repercussions. These life-threatening events would be traumatic for anyone, but those with PTSD experience prolonged symptoms well after the conclusion of the initial traumatic event. They relive the event in their minds, avoid situations that they associate with the trauma, become emotionally detached ("psychic numbness" or dissociation) and experience hyper-arousal, including an exaggerated startle response and difficulty sleeping. Women suffer …

…or implied threat of death or great physical harm creates the conditions for both acute and post-traumatic stress disorder. For most of human history, the law has also failed to protect women from exploitation and abuse. Continued victimization after the initial trauma further reinforces the propensity for PTSD. The unfortunate fact that women are more likely to be victimized is the reason that women are more likely to suffer from PTSD following the traumatic event.