Why are phobias more common in women

Specific phobia is a medical term used to describe a persistent, irrational fear-based reaction to things or situations that have a minor or nonexistent potential to cause harm. Various people can develop this type of response to almost anything. However, some phobic reactions occur much more frequently than others.

Women and girls develop specific phobias much more frequently than men and boys. The types of phobias females develop also tend to differ from the phobias found in males. Here we take a dive into specific phobias in women. Specific phobias were once known as simple phobias. Common specific phobias include:. Phobias to specific things or situations typically first appear in teenagers or younger children; in most cases, these phobic reactions continue into adulthood in some substantial form.

No one knows why any given person develops a specific phobia, the National Institute of Mental Health reports. Phobias are one of the most common types of psychiatric disorders and can create a significant disruption in a person's functioning and well-being. Fortunately, safe and effective treatments are available which may include psychotherapy , medication, or a combination of both. The appropriate treatment depends upon a variety of factors including the symptoms and severity of the phobia, so it is always best to consult with your doctor or therapist in order to develop a treatment plan that works for your specific situation.

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Specific Phobia. The cross-national epidemiology of specific phobia in the World Mental Health Surveys. Psychol Med. Spiders are special: fear and disgust evoked by pictures of arthropods. Evolution and Human Behavior. Phobias: the Psychology of Irrational Fear. Visual height intolerance and acrophobia: distressing partners for life. J Neurol.

Fear of flying treatment programs for passengers: an international update. Travel Med Infect Dis. Front Psychol. The fear of needles: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Adv Nurs. Leicester: British Psychological Society; Cleveland Clinic. Updated May 8, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind.

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Ophidiophobia Ophidiophobia is the fear of snakes. Cynophobia Cynophobia , or the fear of dogs, is often associated with specific personal experiences such as being bitten by a dog during childhood.

At this point, the anxiety has become quite severe and other mental health problems, such as depression, have developed. This makes successful treatment of any of the disorders much harder.

Early recognition of symptoms is important so that treatment can be administered. Many people have turned to cognitive behavioural therapy, which has been shown to be effective in reducing anxiety.

There is also medication, and there are lifestyle changes people can make to improve their mental health, such as engaging in regular physical activity, doing mindfulness meditation and yoga. Knowing that anxiety is more prevalent among Western and female populations, however, is a valuable step forward. Portsmouth Climate Festival — Portsmouth, Portsmouth.

Edition: Available editions United Kingdom. Become an author Sign up as a reader Sign in. Olivia Remes , University of Cambridge. Inanimate object fears and phobias were more common in older than younger individuals. Animal fears were more intense in younger than in older individuals. Fear of flying increased and fear of injections decreased as a function of age in women but not in men.