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Gender and Age Variations in Psychological Distress: A Study of Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms

This research explores how gender and age influence psychological distress levels, focusing on depressive and anxiety disorders. Results show significant differences between men and women, as well as young and older adults, highlighting potential societal and biological factors affecting distress levels.

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Gender and Age Variations in Psychological Distress: A Study of Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms

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  1. Gender and Age Differences in Psychological Distress Nicole Sagullo Psyc 221L, Fall 2012 Trinity College

  2. Psychological Distress Distress: depressive, anxiety, and personality disorders Phillips, 2009 K6: short 6-question survey to identify psychological distress Choi & DiNitto, 2001 Kessler et al., 2002

  3. Psychological Distress and Gender Women > Men • Depressive symptoms Nolen-Hoeksema, 2010 • Mood and anxiety disorders Eaton et al., 2012

  4. Psychological Distress and Age Young adults > Older Adults • Psychological distress Brown et al., 2007 • 18-29 years > 30-49 years • Depression (MDD) Harkness et al., 2010

  5. Hypotheses • Main Effects • Women > Men • Young adults > Older Adults Interaction Effect • Greater difference between young and older women

  6. Method • K6 scores: Psychological distress • K6: range 0-24 • G= 4.65 (SD = 4.58). • Young adults v. Older Adults • Young: 18-25 years old • Older: 26-34 years old

  7. Results • Main effect for gender: significant • F (1, 33588) = 201.005, p< .001, R2 = .006, MSw= 20.556 • Men(M = 4.27, SD = 4.42) <women (M = 4.98, SD = 4.69)

  8. Results Main effect for age: significant • F (1, 33588) = 418.882, p< .001 , R2 = .006, MSw = 20.556 • 18-25 year olds (M = 5.08, SD = 4.42) > 26-49 year olds(M = 4.65, SD = 4.57).

  9. Results • Interaction: significant • F (1, 33588) = 7.72, p< .01, R2 = .00023 , MSw = 20.556

  10. Conclusions • Women > Men SUPPORTED • Hormones/neurobiology? • Societal/social influences? • Young adults > Late AdultsSUPPORTED • Inexperienced? • Greater age difference among women: SUPPORTED • Hormones/neurobiological changes? • Social influences on women’s perception?

  11. Implications • Young (18-25 year old) women= more psychological distress • Men= less reported psychological distress

  12. FutureResearch • Psychological Distress • Depression • Anxiety and Mood • Antisocial mannerisms • Substance Abuse • Age Range • Greater range • Different Scale

  13. WorksCited • Brown, J., Meadows, S. O., & Elder, G. r. (2007). Race-ethnic inequality and psychological distress: Depressive symptoms from adolescence to young adulthood.Developmental Psychology, 43(6), 1295-1311. doi:10.1037/0012-1649.43.6.1295 • Choi, N. G. and DiNitto, M. D. (2011). Psychological Distress, Binge/Heavy Drinking, and Gender Differences among Older Adults. The American Journal on Addictions, 20: 420–428.doi: 10.1111/j.1521-0391.2011.00149.x • Harkness, K. L., Alavi, N., Monroe, S. M., Slavich, G. M., Gotlib, I. H., & Bagby, R. (2010). Gender differences in life events prior to onset of major depressive disorder: The moderating effect of age. Journal Of Abnormal Psychology, 119(4), 791-803. doi:10.1037/a0020629 • Kessler, R. C., Andrews, G., Colpe, L. J., Hiripi, E., Mroczek, D. K., Normand, S.-L.T., Walters, E. E., et al. (2002). Short screening scales to monitor population prevalences and trends in non-specific psychological distress. Psychological Medicine, 32(6), 959–976. doi:10.1017/S0033291702006074 • Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2001). Gender Differences in Depression. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 10:173.doi: 10.1111/1467-8721.00142 • Phillips, M. R. (2009). Is distress a symptom of mental disorders, a marker of impairment, both or neither? World Psychiatry, 8(2), 91–92.

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