Suicide rates often vary between genders, ethnicities, and social classes, but in some studies suicide rates are shown higher in adults, specifically older Caucasian males (Suicide). However, depression rates, in general, display a strong lean toward women throughout their youth leading into adulthood. During childhood, boys actually show higher rates of depression then girls do. It is not until the age of 14, when puberty starts to play a part in her life that girl’s rates in depression dramatically increase leaving the boys rates far behind them.
This lead in women’s depression rates over men’s is apparent until around the age of 55, when a woman’s depression rates begin to return more equally with males their age (See fig. 1. ) Valerie Whiffen, a clinical psychologist, believes that a possible reason for the difference in depression between males and females could be hormonal. (Whiffen) Because most women are postmenopausal at this age, these studies suggest that females’ increased risk for depression occurs only during their reproductive years, which could point to a hormonal explanation.
However, the findings of individual studies are inconsistent. One investigator combined the results of 25 studies into a single analysis (called a meta-analysis); over all of the studies, the rates of depression were equal for males and females only before the age of 10 and after the age of 80, which is much longer than females’ reproductive years. (Whiffen) During puberty, along with the hormonal changes, girl’s bodies and level of attractiveness begins to become a core component in their self-worth due to stereotypical adolescent gender roles.
Whiffen explains how puberty becomes damaging to a young girls mental health and can easily cause feelings of depression, “the normal changes associated with puberty mean that girls gain fat, especially in their breasts and buttocks. They lose their prepubescent shape and the thinness that is so idealized in contemporary Western societies” (Whiffen). Males, on the other hand, begin to grow taller and gain more muscle through puberty, moving closer to the ideal vision of an attractive male body. (Whiffen) Fig. 1. This bar graph represents how female’s rates for depression spikes up, towering over males at around age 15-24.
This age is when females start going through puberty and have hormonal imbalances. These rates do not return to a more equal rate with men until around age 55-64, the age when start to experience menopause. From the start of puberty to the beginning of menopause, a woman’s likeliness of experiencing major depression is doubled. Women are also more susceptible to other disorders throughout the time of suffering from depression, most commonly eating disorders, panic and anxiety disorders, personality disorders, etc. Whiffen). Chronic, recurring depression, for women, has often been related back to sexual abuse during childhood. Many studies have shown that childhood sexual abuse is more prevalent in young girls than in boys, while physical abuse is more prevalent in young boys than girls.
As already stated woman tend to have a higher rate of experiencing depression, this suggests that perhaps sexual abuse, rather than physical abuse, during childhood is more damaging mentally and emotionally, resulting in higher depression rates. Whiffen) Woman who have been sexually assaulted have reported being unable to trust family members, friends, and romantic partners. Many of these woman avoid having any close relationship altogether. A woman who has experienced childhood sexual abuse is more likely to experience divorce or separation than a woman who has not had this experience, which can put great life stress on them. This can result in an even higher risk of developing depression or anxiety (Whiffen).
Statistically, woman that have faced sexual abuse in the past have an even higher chance of experiencing it in their adult years, in turn, resulting in memories and unfortunately, depression relapse. GENDER DIFFERENCES IN TREATMENT There are countless studies depicting the difference between the genders and how an individual’s sex can have an impact on the way they may experience depression, but little has been discussed or written about how gender may have may affect which treatments may or may not be beneficially during recovery.
Just by viewing society’s standards, stereotypes, and norms a general inference can be made that many more females who suffer from a mental disorder undergo cognitive therapy than males. In society, men are made out to be strong, and many times are viewed as weak or not worthy when they show their emotions or admit defeat to their problems, resulting in a possible low rate of males submitted into therapy. Ronald Levant describes traditional norms of males as emphasis of toughness, competition, status, and emotional stoicism, and states that society “… iews certain male problems as unfortunate but predictable results of the male role socialization process” (Levant).
These ignored males problems include aggression, violence, devolution of women, fear and hatred toward homosexuals, and the neglect of health needs. (Levant) Levant also makes the point that women have been able to make changes to their stereotypes and norms over the last few decades. These changes include making the shift from the previously known female values (family, love, and caring for others) to the values that are more prominent in women today.
These values represent women’s career, independence, and defining their own accomplishments. While women have been able to alter their norms, men have had little to no changes in their stereotypes. This leaves men to be closed off to their problems and admitting the need of help. (Levant) In the article Depression, it is stated that therapy is especially successful in treating women that suffer from depression rather than men, specifically women who suffer from marital, family, or work relates stresses.
This form of treatment is also highly recommended for woman who choose not to take medication or have slight or mild depression. (Depression) It is impossible to not see that cognitive therapy most definitely has a great and positive impact on those who suffer from any mental disorder, and although medications have there down falls, especially if misused or over used, it is clear that when handling severe Major Depressive Disorder or Anxiety Disorder that it can be helpful.
However, every case of depression or anxiety is vastly different, depending on the individuals sex, age, and family background. Therefore, there is no perfect form of treatment. In most cases the use of cognitive therapy, or psychotherapy, accompanied by small to medium amounts of medication may be the best possible way to overcome the disorder and live a happy, healthy life.
