Australian men are more likely than women to complain if they have a cold or flu - and to seek sympathy for their ailment from their partners.

A nationwide Newspoll study surveyed 1,200 respondents aged 18 and over about how well males and females coped with cold and flu.

The study found Australian men were more likely than women to complain, seek sympathy and expect their partner to look after them when they take sick.

It also found three in four Australians think women cope better than men when sick with cold or flu.

Ninety per cent of women think women cope better than men, and 60 per cent of males agree with them.

Sixty per cent of men surveyed think men are more likely to complain about how they feel and 65 per cent of males think men are more likely to expect their partner to look after them.

The study, conducted by phone, also found only 30 per cent of Australian women admit they get cranky or irritated with their partner when they were sick with a cold or flu. “These results support the view often expressed by women that, overall, females are better than males when it comes to coping with being sick with a cold or flu,” clinical psychologist Catherine Campbell said.

“The surprise is that this research suggests that men actually agree with this,” she said. The study also found 70 per cent of Australians think their partner should buy or arrange medication, take over household responsibilities, organise food and drink, and ‘check-in’ with them regularly when they are sick.

Only 32 per cent of women said their partner made a fuss over them when they were sick with cold or flu.

“Even though Australian females thought care and support was important, the research suggests they don’t get this from their partner,” Campbell said.

The symptoms of a cold include a runny or blocked nose, sneezing, a minor throat irritation, mild fever, blocked ears and coloured mucus or nasal discharge.

Flu symptoms include high fever, dry cough, shivering, sweating, irritation in the throat and severe muscle aches.