Gender considerations in Major Depressive Disorder

1. Gender considerations in Major Depressive Disorder Taken in part from Comer’s ‘Abnormal Psychology’ 7th edition

2. 2:1 • Worldwide, women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression.

3. 2:1 • Worldwide, women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression. • Women are also likely to be younger when depression strikes.

4. 2:1 • What factors contribute to these statistics?

5. Artifact theory • A theory which states that women and men are equally likely to suffer from depression, but clinicians are more likely to detect it in women. (Brommelhoff et al 2004)

6. Artifact theory • A theory which states that women and men are equally likely to suffer from depression, but clinicians are more likely to detect it in women. (Brommelhoff et al 2004) • Nolen-Hoeksema found that women are no more likely to seek help for depression than men (1990).

7. Hormone explanation • The theory that the hormonal changes in a woman’s body can trigger depression.

8. Hormone explanation • The theory that the hormonal changes in a woman’s body can trigger depression. • It’s hard to separate the hormonal from the social influences though. • Criticised as sexist.

9. Life stress theory • On average women are more likely to encounter: • More poverty • More menial jobs • Less adequate housing • More discrimination than men

10. Body dissatisfaction explanation • Women more likely to be dissatified with their body. • Why do you think this is the case?

11. Lack of control theory • Women are less likely to be in control / feel that they are in control of their lives. • Women are more likely to be victimized.

12. Self-blame explanation • Women are less likely to use the self-serving bias. • That is, women are more likely than men to blame their failure on lack of ability and attribute their successes to luck. • Today’s men and women may not differ as much as they used to (Kling 1999).

13. Rumination theory Imagine the situation: Boyfriend and girlfriend have just had a big fight, they both storm off angrily. What does the boy do next? What does the girl do next?

14. Rumination theory • Women are more likely than men to ruminate when they are feeling down, this could make them more vulnerable to the onset of depression (Nolen-Hoeksema).