Many researchers have found out that depression is more prevalent in women than men. Recent studies by Ben et al (960) in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology established that at least one in every four women is likely to suffer some form of depression during her life time. The study also revealed that depression is twice more prevalent in women than men. Studies by Nazroo and Edwards (3) in the Sociology of Health & Illness Journal have also identified depression as a disorder that may strike at any time and that women are more susceptible during their motherhood years. In fact in the study he found that women are at more risk of depression during pregnancy and just after delivery. In deed studies by Whilhelm and Roy (46) in the journal Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica affirm to these findings and he has indicated that nearly 25% of women get depression either during pregnancy or post-delivery period. Surprising though, in most of these women, the illness is never recognized and thus disappears without treatment. The main reason for prevalence during these periods is brought about by the hormone oestrogen and other hormones. Since women have got more hormones than men, and that they are more likely to experience hormonal fluctuations more so during childbirth and transition to menopause, experts have pointed out these fluctuations as the trigger to depression prevalence in women.
Many people have attributed the difference in disorder prevalence to the many stresses that women go through due to their gender and the demands they face due to multiple and conflicting roles they are engaged in within the family, community and work. Women go through so many stressors during childbearing years due to many life changing and potential transforming events like being married and the emotional constraint of marriage and these have cognitive disruptions. Because during this time a woman goes through a lot, education, marriage, career, childbearing and child rearing which creates emotional constraints that can breed depression. Indeed, monthly hormonal changes acts like a recurrent stressors which repeatedly sustain the emotions and in turn alters the woman brain making her more susceptible to depression (Whilhelm and Roy 50).
It is worth noting that during adolescence girls and boys have got almost the same rates of depression prevalence, but at the ages of 11 and 13 things begin to change. By the 15th age there is a dramatic rise in the depression prevalence in girls from 13th to 15th birthday and after this age females become twice as likely to suffer depression as men. Studies have found the dramatic change to result from the dramatic psychological and physical changes in women during adolescence that render more adolescent girls at more risk of depression (by Nazroo and Edwards 14).
The hypothesis that depression diagnosis is biased to some extent is true since many doctors expect women to be prone to depression than men, further more causes of depression for women is more expected than in cases for men.
Both National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the American Psychological Association (APA) affirm to the roles and contribution of biosocial, cognitive and psychosocial interplay as important in the gender difference and depression prevalence. Women are more likely to experience hormonal changes due to their biological make up and these contribute to depression. In addition, their cognitive ability and response to pressure put them at more risk of depression since they like to lament and fixate over their problems than men who instead will watch TV or go to play. Furthermore, their psychosocial development put them in a state where they develop issues with their body image and family and community pressures and expectations may make them to feel bad towards their body resulting to likelihood of depression.
Work cited
Ben Hamida, S., Mineka, S., & Bailey, J. M. Sex Differences In Perceived Controllability Of Mate Value: An Evolutionary Perspective. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology: 1998. Vol 75, pp. 953-966.
Nazroo, J. Y., & Edwards, A. Gender Differences In The Prevalence Of Depression: Artifact, Alternative Disorders, Biology Or Roles? Sociology of Health & Illness: 2000. Issue. 20, pp. 1-15.
Wilhelm, K., & Roy, K. Gender Differences In Depression Risk And Coping Factors In A Clinical Sample. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica: 2009. Vol. 106, pp. 45-53.
