The most common and most well-known fact about depression is that women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression. What is the cause of this gender gap? There are a few factors that contribute to this difference.
Puberty
One reason that has been proposed as a factor that contributes to the development of depression is puberty. Hormone changes during puberty may increase some girls’ risk of developing depression. However, temporary mood swings related to fluctuating hormones during puberty are normal. These changes alone do not cause depression. After puberty, depression rates are higher in females than in males because girls typically reach puberty before boys do. Hence, they are more likely to develop depression at an earlier stage than boys do. There is evidence that suggests that this depression gender gap may continue throughout their lifespan.
Perimenopause and Menopause
Similarly, perimenopause can be linked to the gender gap in depression. Risk of depression may increase during the transition to menopause – a stage called perimenopause – when hormone levels may fluctuate erratically. Depression risk may also rise during early menopause or after menopause. During both instances, oestrogen levels are significantly reduced. Most women who experience both menopausal symptoms do not usually develop depression, but some factors can increase the risk –
- Interrupted or poor sleep
- Anxiety or a history of depression
- Stressful life events
- Weight gain or a higher BMI
Life Circumstances and Culture
The higher rate of depression in women is not due to biology alone. Life circumstances and cultural stressors can play a significant role as well. Whilst some of these stressors also occur in men, it is usually at a lower rate. These include –
- Unequal power and status – women are much more likely than men to live in poverty, causing concerns such as uncertainty about the future and decreased access to community and health care resources. These issues can cause feelings of negativity, low self-esteem, and a lack of control over life.
- Work overload – often, women work outside their homes and still handle house responsibilities which most men do not. Many women deal with the challenges of single parenthood, such as working multiple jobs to make ends meet. Also, women may be caring for their children while also caring for sick or elder family members.
- Sexual or physical abuse – women who were emotionally, physically, or sexually abused as children or adults are more likely to experience depression at some point in their lives than those who were not, and women are more likely than men to experience sexual abuse.
It is a mixture of these factors that may lead to the development and maintenance of the depression gender gap.