Date of Award
2022
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Social Sciences
First Advisor
Cottrell, Catherine
Area of Concentration
Psychology
Abstract
Anxiety is an extremely prevalent mental disorder that can be treated in a multitude of ways. Both clinician-led therapies and minimal contact therapies have shown great efficacy in reducing anxiety symptomology. Factors that influence this efficacy include past experiences with therapy, opinions towards therapy, and individual levels of self-disclosure. Additionally, all of these factors have been shown to differ by the gender identity of the patient. The current study sought to explore if there were any gender differences in one’s willingness to try these different forms of therapy to help better manage their anxiety. The current study hypothesized that men would be less willing than women to try clinician-led therapy to treat their anxiety, based on past research. A sample of 117 participants completed a survey that measured, among other variables, their willingness to try clinician-led and minimal contact therapies and their tendencies towards self-disclosure. While the data generally followed the hypothesis, the gender differences in willingness to try clinician-led therapies were not statistically significant. In addition, tendency toward negative self-disclosure and willingness to try clinician-led therapies shared a positive relationship. Future research should investigate possible explanations for gender differences in attitudes towards therapy, along with other possible demographic differences in therapeutic attendance.
Recommended Citation
Forman, Samantha, "“THERAPY? WHAT AM I, A GIRL?”: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN WILLINGNESS TO TRY DIFFERENT FORMS OF THERAPY TO TREAT ANXIETY" (2022). Theses & ETDs. 6223.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/6223