Women’s Health Month: 6 Mental Health Struggles More Likely to Affect Women

On average, more women are diagnosed with mental health conditions than men. While this is true overall, there are several specific conditions that women tend to be more prone to. Below, we outline six conditions that are more commonly experienced by women.

The reasons for gender differences in mental health are poorly understood, but it’s most likely due to a complex interaction between biological factors, life circumstances, and societal or cultural factors.

Research does show that women are more likely to internalize distress—meaning that distress may be felt and expressed more inwardly, for instance as worry, self-blame, or rumination. On the other hand, men tend to be more likely to externalize—meaning that distress may be expressed outwardly, for instance as aggression or disruptive behavior. This difference may partially account for the different types of mental health conditions experienced by each gender.

It is important for us to note that the differences we are discussing are broad patterns that can be seen over large populations, and that there is a lot of overlap. That is, no assumptions should be made about any one individual based on the information discussed here.

We’d also like to note that we are focusing on women’s mental health in comparison to men, but other identities across the gender spectrum may experience their own unique challenges, which we will cover elsewhere.

1. Anxiety

Anxiety is a common human experience, and is experienced by individuals from all walks of life. Research shows, at least in western societies, that women experience day-to-day anxiety more than men, and are diagnosed with anxiety disorders at a higher rate.

On average, women tend to score higher on the personality trait “neuroticism”, which involves a higher disposition toward negative emotional states. Neuroticism is associated with a greater likelihood of experiencing common mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression.

2. Depression

Like anxiety disorders, women are diagnosed with clinical depression about twice as often as men. While we all feel down from time to time, clinical depression refers to a period of at least two weeks with persistent low mood and other symptoms that disrupt daily functioning.

As part of this, women are more likely to think about suicide and more frequently make attempts to take their own lives (although, they are less likely than men to complete suicide due to a tendency to choose less lethal means).

If you have thoughts of ending your life, we strongly encourage you to contact your local emergency services or support hotlines.

There are many possible causes of depression, but there may be hormone-related factors that contribute to depression in women. These can include hormonal fluctuations as part of the menstrual cycle,  menopause, pregnancy, childbirth, and during breastfeeding. 

3. Perinatal depression

Perinatal depression refers to both antenatal (during pregnancy) and postnatal (after childbirth) depression. Pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and bonding with a baby come with hormonal changes that can impact emotional functioning in various ways.

Having a baby is also a huge life change! Humans generally struggle to adapt to significant life events and caring for a new child is one of the biggest adjustments that many of us may ever face.

It’s normal to feel a range of intense emotions before and after childbirth, and most women face challenges at various points in this journey. However, if symptoms of depression persist for more than two weeks, it is usually a good idea to seek mental health care.

4. Eating disorders

On average, women are more likely to struggle with issues related to body image and eating disorders that involve restricting food intake.

Not only are women exposed to more messages about body image and are more likely to be affected by social expectations, but women in many cultures have formed certain norms for how they should look. For instance, wearing makeup and certain types of clothing tend to be strong norms among women in certain cultures. Men usually have social standards for appearance as well, but the expectations are often fewer and not as strong.

As a result of these societal norms and pressures, women may be more prone to taking extreme measures to get their bodies to look a certain way, particularly when they are struggling with other underlying mental health challenges.

5. Post-traumatic stress disorder

Research shows that, while women are not necessarily more likely to experience traumatic life events generally, they are more likely to experience specific types of trauma, such as being subjected to sexual abuse and domestic violence. Women who are abused are at higher risk of suffering severe injuries compared to men who are abused. As a result, women are more likely to develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress in response to these experiences.

The tendency to internalize experiences means that women may be more likely to place blame on themselves and become stuck in destructive thought patterns following interpersonal abuse. These responses further heighten the risk of developing post-traumatic stress and other mental health challenges.

6. Borderline personality disorder

Personality disorders are believed to develop from a combination of biological factors and environmental circumstances that disrupt the healthy development of personality in early life. Such circumstances may include abuse or other conditions of severe adversity.

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by difficulties regulating emotions, managing distress, maintaining healthy relationships, and controlling impulses. As BPD involves more internalizing features than some of the other common personality disorders, many experts believe that personality disturbances are more likely to manifest as BPD among women. In contrast, men may be more likely to develop personality disorders that involve more externalizing features, such as antisocial personality disorder. This may explain why women are diagnosed with BPD more frequently than men.

That said, it is worth noting that perceptions and even misconceptions of these conditions may result in a bias among diagnosing clinicians, such that they may be more likely to interpret certain symptoms as BPD in women, but as something else in men. Such bias may contribute to the different rates of BPD diagnoses between women and men.

Getting help: Tips for women

There are many options for seeking help for any of the conditions we have discussed for people of all genders. Speaking to a trusted loved one or your doctor are often good places to start.

While support from others can be helpful for anyone, research shows that social support tends to be particularly beneficial for women. If you struggle to reach out to others, you could start small—maybe a message to a trusted friend to say that you’re feeling a bit off.

On average, women tend to be more passive and less likely to communicate their needs. While it might be challenging, it’s ok to let others know what you need, set healthy boundaries, and advocate for yourself. Learning about assertive communication may also be helpful.

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, there are support services out there that are specifically designed for women in these situations. These services understand how complex it can be. Most cities even contain hidden shelters for women who need refuge from unsafe circumstances. Look up your local domestic violence hotline for more information. Even if you’re not sure about your situation, you can call these lines anonymously and get some clarity.

Finally, for day-to-day strategies to help you manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other emotional challenges, you can use the Mind Ease app.