Gender Differences in Self Reported Worrying and Emotional Regulation Deficits in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Patients

Background: Studies of gender differences in GAD have revealed female preponderance in the epidemiology, co morbidity, and symptom severity in GAD. Relatively less explored are gender differences in the cardinal feature of GAD, i.e. excessive worrying and in the underlying emotional regulation deficits, the presence of which is evidenced in GAD sufferers. Objective: To assess gender differences in the self reported worrying and emotional regulation difficulties in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) patients. Method: Data were derived from a 150 patients (75 male and 75 female patients) with a primary psychiatric diagnosis of GAD (DSM-V, 2013); who were under treatment from various psychiatric centers based in Haryana. The tools used were Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Results: Women with GAD had significantly higher self reported worrying levels and greater emotional regulation deficits than men with GAD. Conclusion: The current study provides evidence for gender differences in worrying and emotional regulation deficits in GAD patients. Women GAD patients worry more and have more emotional regulation deficits as compared to male GAD patients.