Anxiety/Depression Experiences Among U.S. Adults 50-Plus Differ by Gender

Screening for anxiety and depression among older adults is an important part of a routine health assessment. In this survey AARP finds that about a quarter of older adults ages 50-plus have been told by a health professional that they have an anxiety disorder (27%) and/or depression (27%). Of those, the majority are currently being treated for their anxiety (60%) and/or depression (56%).

Of those who have never been told they have an anxiety disorder or depression only just over a third (37%) say they were asked about their mental and emotional health by a healthcare professional in the past two years.

Interestingly, experiences in this area with healthcare professionals in the past two years differ based on gender:

• Women are significantly more likely than men to say their healthcare professional has asked them about their mental and/or emotional health (49% vs. 40%) in the past two years
• Women are also significantly more likely to say they have been asked whether there was a period of time when they felt sad, empty, or depressed (52% vs. 40%)
• Women are also significantly more likely to say they have been asked whether there was a period of time when they anxious or worried (48% vs. 38%)

These findings highlight the importance of consistently including routine mental health assessments for all, especially those over the age of 50.

Methodology

This survey, "Anxiety and Depression Among the 50-Plus," was included in the 2023 AARP March Omni which was conducted online (with a phone option) from March 23 to 28, 2023, with a total sample of 1,024 adults ages 50-plus.

For more information, please contact Cheryl L. Lampkin at clampkin@aarp.org. For media inquiries, contact External Relations at media@aarp.org.