Ansiedad y regulación emocional según el sexo: evidencias de una correlación significativa en población adulta.

Abstract

This research project was designed to analyze the dependence between anxiety levels and emotional regulation in Ecuadorian adults, considering differences by sex. The instruments used were the DERS (Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale) and the GHQ-28 (General Health Questionnaire), with a non-probabilistic sample of 1,530 participants (679 men and 851 women). The data were analyzed using correlation tests and comparisons between sexes with the Jamovi software. The results showed a positive and statistically significant relationship between anxiety and emotional dysregulation (r = .341, p < .001), consistent with international findings. Additionally, significant differences by gender were found: women reported higher levels of anxiety (M = 2.55, SD = 2.43) compared to men (M = 1.84, SD = 2.25), while no significant differences were observed in emotional dysregulation. These results highlight the relevance of emotional regulation as a fundamental factor in the manifestation of anxiety. The discussion emphasizes the need for gender-differentiated therapeutic interventions in Ecuador that strengthen emotional regulation skills and prevent anxiety.