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Gender and Age Differences in Psychological Distress. Nicole Sagullo Psyc 221L, F all 2012 Trinity College. Psychological Distress. Distress: depressive, anxiety, and personality disorders Phillips, 2009 K6: short 6-question survey to identify psychological distress
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Gender and Age Differences in Psychological Distress Nicole Sagullo Psyc 221L, Fall 2012 Trinity College
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
Psychological Distress and Gender Women > Men • Depressive symptoms Nolen-Hoeksema, 2010 • Mood and anxiety disorders Eaton et al., 2012
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
Hypotheses • Main Effects • Women > Men • Young adults > Older Adults Interaction Effect • Greater difference between young and older women
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
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)
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).
Results • Interaction: significant • F (1, 33588) = 7.72, p< .01, R2 = .00023 , MSw = 20.556
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?
Implications • Young (18-25 year old) women= more psychological distress • Men= less reported psychological distress
FutureResearch • Psychological Distress • Depression • Anxiety and Mood • Antisocial mannerisms • Substance Abuse • Age Range • Greater range • Different Scale
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.