Abstract
Anxiety is a leading cause of global disability and is twice as prevalent in women as compared to men. The Global Burden of Disease registry states that 7.9% of Irish women struggle with anxiety, higher than the international average of 4.6%. This study sought to examine the prevalence and potential correlates of anxiety in an Irish sample of women. The study found 27.3% of participants reported a previous diagnosis of anxiety whereas 60.9% of participants demonstrated symptoms of anxiety ranging from mild to extremely severe. The study found positive strong correlations between levels of measured anxiety and a previous diagnosis of anxiety, a previous diagnosis of depression, perceived stress and rumination. Given the personal and economic burden of anxiety on women, it is imperative that research continues into why women experience anxiety at such high levels, what is causing it and what treatments are more suitable for women specifically.
