Based on research, it's complex to definitively say who feels pain "the most" overall, but there are notable sex differences in pain sensitivity.
While individual pain tolerance varies greatly, research suggests a tendency for women to report greater pain sensitivity compared to men. Specifically, the referenced information highlights:
- The direction of sex differences in pain responses across multiple stimulus modalities and pain measures is highly consistent, with women showing greater sensitivity than men.
However, it's crucial to understand these nuances:
- The magnitude (and statistical significance) of the sex difference varies across measures, as it does across published studies. This means the difference isn't consistent across all types of pain or all studies.
- Many factors beyond sex influence pain perception, including genetics, psychological factors, past experiences, and cultural influences.
Therefore, while women, on average, report greater pain sensitivity, it's an oversimplification to say they "feel pain the most." Pain experience is complex and influenced by a multitude of factors that vary from person to person.
