Women are between 20 and 40 per cent more likely to suffer mental health problems than their male counterparts.
This is according to Professor Daniel Freeman of the University of Oxford, who concluded in his latest book that the difficulties females face often stem from their need to juggle roles as carers, homemakers and, increasingly, breadwinners.
Men, however, are more likely to have alcohol, drug and anger problems, which results in higher incarceration rates for the gender.
Women, on the other hand, are much more likely to suffer from depression, panic disorder, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder and eating problems, according to Professor Freeman’s research.
Studies had previously concluded that men and women had similar levels of mental health problems.
Professor Freeman said: “These are the kind of pressures that can leave women feeling as if they’ve somehow failed; as if they don’t have what it takes to be successful; as if they’ve been left behind.”
The Stressed Sex: Uncovering the Truth about Men, Women and Mental Health was released yesterday (May 23rd).
