Beliefs about health risks
Klonoff and Landrine (1994) found gender differences in beliefs about the causes of "AIDS, the common cold, diabetes, hypertension, lung cancer, and headaches." Women were far more likely to attribute these ailments to "Sin and Sex and as a form of punishment." On the other hand, Finucane et al (2000), in what they referred to as the "white male effect", found that men tend to have a lower perception of personal risk than women on multiple assessments, including risk of illness. Interestingly, a survey by MacIntyre et al (2005) found that each sex thought risks of heart disease, cancer, and other illnesses were higher for their own sex than for the opposite one.
The MacIntyre et al paper, in particular, addresses the pattern noted in many self-report surveys of optimism or desirability of results. Often people will answer that they take better than average care of themselves, or that they are better than average drivers, for example. McIntyre et al found it notable that both sexes felt they were at greater risk, since this seemed to be in conflict with that pattern. I see no such conflict. I think that most people feel they have enormous challenges to meet. This makes even their most mundane accomplishments (such as "not dying") into acts of heroism.
The MacIntyre et al paper, in particular, addresses the pattern noted in many self-report surveys of optimism or desirability of results. Often people will answer that they take better than average care of themselves, or that they are better than average drivers, for example. McIntyre et al found it notable that both sexes felt they were at greater risk, since this seemed to be in conflict with that pattern. I see no such conflict. I think that most people feel they have enormous challenges to meet. This makes even their most mundane accomplishments (such as "not dying") into acts of heroism.