One in three UK women (34%) is suffering from “high anxiety” levels, according to new research. This figure rises to 40% for women and girls aged 16-29.
Young people loneliest
UK searches for “anxiety” are currently around 122k a day
Women “becoming more anxious” than men
Younger people are also more likely to feel lonely, with 40% of the same age group feeling lonely “often, always or some of the time”.
Speaking ahead of International Women’s Day (Saturday 8 March), psychologist Dr Caroline Keenan said: “The gender difference in anxiety levels may stem from societal pressures, caregiving responsibilities, and differences in how men and women process and report emotions.
“Younger people reporting more loneliness is a real concern. Despite being the most connected generation online, they may lack deep, in-person connections that provide real emotional support.”
Analysis of the figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that women’s anxiety is outpacing men’s, with 34% of women reporting high anxiety, compared to 28% of men. This shows a significant rise from 2015 figures, 22% of women and 18% of men.
Also reported in the most recent figures (8 January to 2 February), one in four UK adults (25%) said they felt lonely “often, always or some of the time”. The highest percentage is those aged 16 to 29 (40%). Ages 16 to 49 make up by far the highest amount (35% between them).
Searches for “anxiety” in the UK have gone from 718k in January 2008 to a high of 3.8m searches in March 2021, which is about 122k a day and a rise of 428%. The figure has remained around the same since.
It is a similar picture worldwide where searches have gone from 14m a month in 2008 to 54m a month last year, a rise of 285%.
UK searches for “anxiety symptoms” have risen from 57k in January 2008 to a high of 301k in March 2021, a rise of 458%, and are currently around 200k a month.
ONS figures also show that, around one in three (31%) UK adults felt “high anxiety yesterday”, a slight fall from three years ago (34%). More females report this (34%) than males (28%).
Looking at stress issues for women, recent research from Pregnant Then Screwed (PTS) found that up to 70k women every year lose their job because of getting pregnant or taking maternity leave - up 37% from 54k in 2016.
PTS launched a live “career shredder” to shred the CVs of mums in real time to highlight the problem. Earlier PTS research also found “more than half of pregnant women describe themselves as stressed or really stressed (56.6%)”.
Dr Keenan added: “The rise in anxiety and depression across the UK reflects a combination of wider world issues— economic uncertainty, climate concerns, and global conflicts.
“There are also local pressures, including the cost-of-living crisis, job insecurity, and stretched public services. Social media and the constant news cycles also play a role, amplifying stress and making it harder to disconnect.
“While the statistics highlight growing struggles, they also show that most people still feel hopeful. Taking small, intentional steps can help boost resilience and protect mental wellbeing.
“Don't let not being able to do everything put you off doing anything. Its the small but consistent actions we take that add up to make a change.”
Dr Kennan’s self-help tips:
Limit ‘doomscrolling’: stay informed, but set time limits on news and social media.
Small wins matter: focus on things such as daily routines and self-care.
Prioritise connection: even a quick chat with neighbours can help combat loneliness.
Get outside: nature and movement have well-documented benefits for mental health.
Talk about it: sharing how you feel can ease the burden.
Notes
Methodology:
Data taken from:
Using google trends, searches were carried out - where possible - using “topic” rather than “search term” as this takes in more data, allowing for variances of spelling etc.
PTS career shredder: https://www.youtube.com/live/OKsWbSeq78A
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