What Is Anxiety, and Why Does It Impact More Women+ Than Men?

Anxiety health disparities

Health disparities exist between races and ethnicities. Some potential reasons include underdiagnosis or poorer access to quality mental healthcare. 

Anxiety not only impacts more women+, but the overall impact and illness burden of anxiety is greater as well. This is particularly the case in white and Hispanic women+, who also tend to have a higher rate of disability related to the condition.

For instance, they are more likely to miss work and be diagnosed with other illnesses, like:

• Bulimia nervosa
• Depression (major depressive disorder)
• Another anxiety disorder

Women+ with anxiety are more likely than men to be prescribed medicine for it, even if it’s the same level of severity. While medication can be helpful, this finding could suggest that other treatment options aren’t being tried or offered first.

Treatments are available, and as a woman+ on the menopause journey, remember it’s important to consider ALL options. 

Health disparities among races and ethnicities

Fewer members of the Black and Hispanic populations report having a mental health condition compared to those who are white. However, within a racial group, differences can be seen as well. For example, one study found that almost 62% of Latin American women+ who were post-menopausal also reported having anxiety. That rate is almost twice the rate of anxiety among women+ in general. 

And, strikingly, when diagnosed with a mental health condition, white women+ are more likely to receive services for it. Consider these differences in care:

• 1 in 2 white individuals receive care
• 1 in 3 who are Black or Hispanic get care
• 1 in 5 who are Asian receive care

When it comes to actual services received, all racial and ethnic groups of women+ have been found to be offered treatment with medication at similar rates.

But those who are non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic are half as likely to be offered counseling or talk therapy by healthcare practitioners.

There are a variety of treatments available, and as a woman+ on the menopause journey, remember it’s important to consider ALL options.

You are not alone

If you’re feeling anxious during the menopause journey, don’t be alarmed, as you are not alone. 

Take your symptoms seriously to prevent them from rising to the level of an anxiety disorder. 

Talk with your healthcare practitioner to determine the root cause(s) and ask about treatment options. pausitive health details dozens of options (many of which do not require medication) to manage and treat anxiety. 

Remember, the menopause journey is a great time to make a change for the better, one symptom at a time!

For a limited time, you can participate in our menopause journey pilot program, a one-stop destination offering education, virtual care, and other services like digital cognitive behavioral therapy (d-CBT), which has been shown to help with stress, anxiety, and depression.