Living with female roommates at university makes male students less “macho,” a new study from Essex University and Australia’s University of Technology Sydney shows.

The study, which followed a group of students at a British university living in on-campus halls of residence over a year, found that men living in mixed-sex housing with female roommates showed a significant decline in competitiveness. There was no effect on women.

“The study concluded that men’s competitiveness is more likely to decrease over time when they live with more female roommates,” said Dr Angus Holford, senior research fellow at Essex University and co-author of the study. “The flip side is that it is more likely to increase over time when they live with more male roommates.”

Hypercompetitive behavior among male students can have negative impacts in the future. For example, it can lead to dysfunctional workplaces, such as those seen at Nike and the ride-hailing company Uber. A culture of masculinity competition can lead to less innovation, increased bullying and harassment, and higher rates of illness and depression among both male and female workers.

“A group of colleagues is likely to have a healthier and more productive relationship when there is less competition,” says Holford.

However, competitiveness is not always a negative trait, he added. “Competitiveness is not necessarily harmful. People who are more competitive get better grades, they get higher salaries – they are more satisfied with their lives later on,” he said. “So there is a kind of trade-off between what might be good for the individual and what might be good for organizations and society.”

As part of the study, participants were assessed twice: once in their first year of study and then again in their second. To measure their competitiveness, students were asked to complete an identical paid task in which they could choose between a fixed amount or a higher amount depending on whether or not they won a competition.

Holford said the new research also showed that there is no innate gap in competitiveness between men and women, nor is it an instinctive trait.

“We show that competitiveness is not a fixed trait – there is no innate, permanent difference between the sexes. In fact, it responds quite quickly to the environment,” he said.

The new results come as hundreds of thousands of young people prepare to move into student halls of residence or shared accommodation ahead of the new academic year. Last Thursday’s A-level results were the best in England since 2010, and nationwide 82% of applicants were accepted into their chosen university.

Most new university students hope to move into student accommodation when term starts in September, but an acute shortage of accommodation could make the move difficult for some. In recent years, UK university towns have struggled with a housing crisis, with some of the most popular university cities, such as Bristol, housing students in other towns miles away from campus.