Review, 1977
Why do women have higher rates of depression than men?
Women in the US and other countries show higher depression rates than men. This may be due to biological factors like hormones or genetics, or psychological factors like discrimination, but the exact cause is unclear.
What they did
This is a review article examining depression rates in men and women across the US and other countries over a 40-year period, analyzing various explanations for differences between sexes.
What they found
The review examined evidence for different depression rates between men and women. Possible explanations include measurement bias (how depression is reported), biological factors (genetic or female hormonal effects), and psychosocial factors such as social discrimination or learned helplessness.
What it means for you
Women may experience depression at higher rates than men, but it's not clear why. It could be biology (hormones or genes), psychology (how discrimination or life stress affects women), or just how depression is measured. This matters for PMS and PMDD because hormonal changes and depression are related.
About the study
- Original title
- Sex differences and the epidemiology of depression
- Authors
- Weissman MM, Klerman GL
- Journal
- Archives of general psychiatry
- Year
- 1977
- Study design
- Review
- What was tested
- None - this is a review of research
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1977.01770130100011
Topics
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