Why is generalized anxiety disorder more common in women than in men?

While the cause and the reason why generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) -- uncontrollable and extreme worry about hypothetical situations on a daily basis -- affects women more than men is still to be determined, some researchers suspect that it may be a result of both biological and environmental factors. Some items that may be factors are the role hormones play, the effects of sexual, physical, and mental abuse, societal pressures of having children and being the primary family caregiver, and the simple fact that women are more apt to visit the doctor and report symptoms of anxiety and depression.