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Cited by 183Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesMaternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and PostpartumChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Anxiety Disorders Among Women: A Female Lifespan Approach

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Hantsoo, Liisa, Epperson, C. Neill·2017·Focus
DOI 10.1176/appi.focus.20160042PMC PMC5613977
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Abstract

Anxiety symptoms may present differently between women and men, and at different points in the female lifespan. The female lifespan includes distinct epochs of hormonal function, including puberty, the premenstruum, in some women pregnancy or postpartum, and the menopausal transition. These stages give rise to important treatment considerations when treating anxiety in women. When making assessments, the clinician should consider reproductive events and hormonal status, as well as sex differences in anxiety presentation. This review is structured to: 1) Define major epochs of the female lifespan, 2) Provide a brief summary of the major anxiety disorders, with a focus on prevalence and presentation in the context of sex differences and at points in the female lifespan, 3) Describe potential biopsychosocial underpinnings of anxiety disorders among women, 4) Provide guidelines for assessment and differential diagnosis, and 5) Describe treatment options with attention to reproductive events such as pregnancy.

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Crossref · 10.1176/appi.focus.20160042

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  • Rumination, neuroticism, behavioral inhibition, worry, anxiety sensitivity, trauma, and low self-esteem correlated positively with anxiety, with all variables being typical of the female stereotype.

    “Such studies showed that rumination, neuroticism, behavioral inhibition, worry, anxiety sensitivity, trauma, and low self-esteem correlated positively with anxiety, with all variables being typical of the female stereotype.33,44,51,55,65,73”

    From Factors associated with gender and sex differences in anxiety prevalence and comorbidity: A systematic review (2022) · cites this paper as [65]

    The Biopsychosocial Underpinnings and Coping and Cognitive Styles sections link rumination, worry, anxiety sensitivity, and traumatic stress to anxiety symptoms or disorders in women and girls (page numbers unavailable). They do not establish positive correlations for every listed variable or describe all the variables as typical of a female stereotype; neuroticism, behavioral inhibition, and low self-esteem are not addressed in the relevant text. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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  • Of the 44 documents, 31 were empirical/quantitative studies and 13 were reviews.

    “Of the 44 documents, 31 were empirical/quantitative studies30–60 and 13 were reviews.61–73”

    From Factors associated with gender and sex differences in anxiety prevalence and comorbidity: A systematic review (2022) · cites this paper as [65]

  • Rumination is a salient risk factor for women observed from the review.

    “some of the most salient risk factors for women observed from our review were rumination33,44,49,65,73 and anxiety sensitivity.51,55,57,65”

    From Factors associated with gender and sex differences in anxiety prevalence and comorbidity: A systematic review (2022) · cites this paper as [65]

  • Anxiety sensitivity is a salient risk factor for women observed from the review.

    “some of the most salient risk factors for women observed from our review were rumination33,44,49,65,73 and anxiety sensitivity.51,55,57,65”

    From Factors associated with gender and sex differences in anxiety prevalence and comorbidity: A systematic review (2022) · cites this paper as [65]

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 32

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Authors
Hantsoo, L., & Epperson, C. N.
Affiliations
University of Pennsylvania (US)
ORCID
Venue
Focus
Publisher
American Psychiatric Association Publishing
Published
2017-04
Volume
15
Issue
2
Pages
162-172
ISSN
  • 1541-4094 (ISSN-L)
  • 1541-4108
DOI
10.1176/appi.focus.20160042
PMC
PMC5613977
OpenAlex
W2606811217
Cited by
183
References
132
Citations by year
2026: 25 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 43 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2
FWCI
10.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • FOCUS The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (K23MH107831)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
anxiety disorders, women, female longevity, sex differences, puberty, premenstrual phase, pregnancy, postpartum anxiety, menopause, hormonal status, biopsychosocial model, differential diagnosis, assessment, treatment, reproductive events

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