Women ‘more likely to experience anxiety than men’

A new study has offered evidence that women are generally more susceptible to anxiety disorders than men.

The University of Cambridge looked at data from 48 existing reviews, finding that between 1990 and 2010 the overall proportion of people affected by anxiety remained largely unchanged, with around four out of every 100 people experiencing symptoms.

Women were shown to be almost twice as likely to be affected as men, with young individuals – both male and female – under the age of 35 being disproportionately affected.

People from western Europe and North America are more likely to suffer from anxiety than people from other cultures, with the presence of other health conditions – such as multiple sclerosis and cardiovascular disease – also heightening the risk.

The report noted that data on some populations was lacking or of poor quality, particularly among marginalised communities. This makes it important to ensure further studies of this topic are carried out.

Study author Olivia Remes from the department of public health and primary care at the University of Cambridge, said: "Anxiety disorders can make life extremely difficult for some people and it is important for our health services to understand how common they are and which groups of people are at greatest risk."