Research shows that twice as many women than men suffer from phobias. In fact, the gender divide grows wider when it comes to certain types of phobias. Agoraphobia — the fear of being in public places — is three times more prevalent in women than men.
More facts about phobias:
- Depression and anxiety, generally, are more common in women than men, but this may also be because women may be more likely to report and seek treatment for their mental health issues.
- Alcohol-related disorders are two times more common in men than women. (Men may also be more likely to report this type of problem than women.)
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder are equally common in men and women.
- Types of phobias:
- Ablutophobia: fear of cleaning
- Acrophobia: fear of heights
- Astraphobia: fear of lightning & thunder
- Aviophobia: fear of flying
- Chaetophobia: fear of hair
- Claustrophobia: fear of confined spaces
- Decidophobia: fear of making decisions
- Phobophobia: fear of having a phobia
- Triskaidekaphobia: fear of the number 13
- Xenophobia: fear of foreigners
- Zoophobia: fear of animals