While anyone can have generalized anxiety disorder, there are GAD gender differences. For example, women are twice as likely as men to have an anxiety disorder in their lifetime.
Generalized anxiety disorder also affects particular demographics of women more than others. For example, more American Indian/Alaskan Native women have GAD compared to other ethnicities and races. Compared to Asian or African-American women, GAD affects white women more significantly.
It’s normal for everyone to experience situational anxiety at different points in their life. Anxiety becomes problematic when it leads to ongoing distress and impairs daily functionality.
Among mental health issues and disorders, anxiety disorders are the most common in the United States.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), an estimated 40 million adults in the U.S. have an anxiety disorder. This number doesn’t specifically refer to the generalized anxiety disorder prevalence, but it does provide an overview of the commonality of anxiety disorders. In children and teens, an estimated eight percent are believed to have anxiety disorders. For many people, symptoms begin to develop before they are 21-years- old.
Regarding generalized anxiety disorder specifically, it’s reported to affect 6.8 million adults in the U.S., according to information provided by the ADAA. When discussing generalized anxiety disorder demographics and statistics, it’s of importance to note it’s the most common cause of workplace disability in the United States.