Abstract
It is usually observed that there exists a gender gap regarding the rate of depression. Research has proved that depression occurs more in women as compared to the men. There are a lot of biological, cultural and social factors that are responsible for this difference. The following article has discussed the role of different biological and socio-cultural factors for the depression in women.
Women and depression understanding the gender gap
1- Introduction
“Anxiety and depression are the co-occurring disorders. However in its rates of comorbidity there exists a gender difference. Its diagnosis has the association with the somatic complaints and is found to be affecting every one person of the community in the five (Comer, 2015). The gender difference is correlated with the depression as they interact with the social determinants. In women, the strain occurs due to the stressful events in the life and their consequences due to differential sensitivity to these developments (Comer, 2015). In general, it is considered that women are more vulnerable to adverse events of the life in comparison to the men. The following research paper will address that fact that why the women have more depression? It has also discussed that what factors are involved in this gender gap.”
2- Discussion
“The rate of the depression diagnosis in women is almost twice in comparison to the men. At any age, this depression can occur (Hosseinpoor et al., 2012). Some of the biological factors and hormonal changes can be the cause of sad feelings, but alone these hormonal changes are not the cause of this depression (Hosseinpoor et al., 2012). There are some other genetic traits, circumstances of personal life and the experiences that are related to the risks of the higher depression. Some of these factors are described below.”
2.1- Biological factors
There are a lot of primary biological factors that are responsible for the depression in the women. However, most of the theses factors either don’t occur in the males or happen late, so that’s why the rate of depression in the men is comparatively less. Some of these biological factors are as follow:
2.1.1- Puberty
“One of the main factors of depressions in the females is the hormonal changes that occur during the puberty. There may be the volatile mood swings that are related to the fluctuation of the hormones that occur during the puberty and is normal. This factor alone is not responsible for the depression there are some other factors that are associated with it which include: the identity issues and emerging sexuality, clashes with the parents, etc. however, after the puberty the rates of depression in females are higher as compare to the males (Needham & Hill, 2010). The reason behind the fact is that girls reach the puberty before the girls and this gender gap exists till the menopause.”
2.1.2- Premenstrual problems
“Another factor is the premenstrual problems. In most of the females, the premenstrual syndrome leads to the tenderness of breasts, bloating in abdomen, irritability, and anxiety (Needham & Hill, 2010). There isn’t any specific interaction between the PMS and depression, but there is a possibility of the changes in the hormones like progesterone and estrogen that are responsible for the chemical variations in the brain and control the mood.”
2.1.3- Pregnancy
“Pregnancy is the one big reason for depression in the females. During the pregnancy, some dramatic changes occur that can affect the mood and may cause the depression (Needham & Hill, 2010). However theses biological and hormonal changes except for the puberty doesn’t occur in the males. The next section described the different social and cultural factors responsible for the depression in females.”
2.2- Cultural and social factors
“Alone the biological factors are not the cause of depression in the women. There are different life situations and the stressors related to the culture that plays this role too. Although these stressors also happened to the men, their rate is lower than the women (Hosseinpoor et al., 2012). These risks include the following factors:”
2.2.1- Unequal status
“One important Scio cultural factor is a different status. Most of the women are much likely to live in the situation of the poverty in comparison to the men. The limited earning and the little potential lead them towards the stress and uncertain concerns about their future (Hosseinpoor et al., 2012). However, they also have to face the discrimination in the society that affects their self-esteem and increases the risks of depression.”
2.2.2- Workload
“Another factor is the workload that they have to suffer in case of working women and the single parent (Hosseinpoor et al., 2012). These kinds of loads usually make them more vulnerable to the depression.”
3- Conclusion
“From the above discussion, it can be concluded that many biological and social factors influence the role of the women in society. The expectations that are related to these factors may lead to the risks of depression. In comparison to females, they usually have the ability to cater these tough situations and remain reluctant to the symptoms of stress. That’s why is gender gap exists.”
References
Comer, R. (2015). Fundamentals of abnormal psychology (8th ed.). Worth Publishers, ISBN 13:
9781464176975.
Hosseinpoor, A., Stewart Williams, J., Amin, A., Araujo de Carvalho, I., Beard, J., & Boerma, T.
Et al. (2012). Social Determinants of Self-Reported Health in Women and Men:
Understanding the Role of Gender in Population Health. PLoS ONE, 7(4), e34799.
Needham, B., & Hill, T. (2010). Do gender differences in mental health contribute to gender
Differences in physical health?. Social Science & Medicine, 71(8), 1472-1479.References
Comer, R. (2015). Fundamentals of abnormal psychology (8th ed.). Worth Publishers, ISBN 13:
9781464176975.
Hosseinpoor, A., Stewart Williams, J., Amin, A., Araujo de Carvalho, I., Beard, J., & Boerma, T.
Et al. (2012). Social Determinants of Self-Reported Health in Women and Men:
Understanding the Role of Gender in Population Health. PLoS ONE, 7(4), e34799.
Needham, B., & Hill, T. (2010). Do gender differences in mental health contribute to gender
Differences in physical health?. Social Science & Medicine, 71(8), 1472-1479.
