Gender and Depression

Depression can simply be defined as a state of mind that affects feelings, behavior, and thoughts of a person. In other words, it is a psychological disorder that disorients the way of thinking, and as a result, affects one’s concentration. Over the years, there have been perceptions concerning the connection of gender to depression. In terms of gender, men are perceived to have a higher risk for depression and other psychological disorder. This is caused by continuous stress associated with work, marriage, and life’s challenges. This paper entails the connections perceived between gender and depression. By this, the paper focuses on a study conducted by Addis on risk factors for depression based on gender differences.

Despites controversial arguments on the topic, gender differences in depression rate seem to be real, emerging in adolescence, and across cultures. Theories accounting for the differences of depression and gender can be divided into three categories; which are environmental, biological, and psychological explanations. It is by these factors that prevalence of depression is based on both sexes. On his study, Addis’s objective was to identify the risk factors that contribute to higher risk of developing depression more in women than in men. On the other hand, men are three times more likely to become suicidal due to depression than women.

According to scientific evidence, it has been proven that women have twice the risk of developing depression than men. Biologically, differences between genders in hormone metabolism account for some of the susceptibility to depression. Men have a tendency of keeping their issues risking them to the development of depression. However, women are exposed to higher risk due to their continuous hormonal changes (Helgeson, 2009).

Having identified that depression is not a disease; it was easier to focus on other causing factors, such as emotional torture, and hormonal imbalance. In his study, Addis mentioned that women have a higher risk of developing depression due to their consistent excretion of hormones. This is because, of their menstrual cycles that affect their emotions by triggering anger and bad moods. Addis noted that thyroid is more active in women than in men due to the production regulation of their hormones.

On the other hand, men release their hormones in fewer cases, such as emotional arousal, anger, and anxiety (Gotlib & Hammen, 2010). It was also proven \that development of depression can be caused by stress. According to a recent study, men were recorded to be the most drug abusers due to stress and other emotional arousal factors. In other words, men try to forget their worries and focus on the brighter side of life. Women tend to concentrate on the issue affecting them, and as a result, develop conditions, such as depression.

To summarize, it is important to note that depression affects men and women, and there should not be a baseline that evaluate one gender from the other. In exploring gender and depression, it is evident that gender socialization plays a vital role among risking factors for depression (Nolen-Hoeksema, 1990). Moreover, it is also clear that biological difference between men and women have an effect on development of depression and other conditions.

Considering that one sex has a higher risk of developing depression, researchers should focus on identifies the risking factors so as to evaluate the differences. As much as gender differences cannot be compensated, theories that focus on the strength of women should identify the positive side of women so as to discriminate this condition.

Although, Addis initiated a discussion on gender by focusing on depression in men, it is clear that discussed all the concepts in gender differences. However, the author should have focused more on highlighting the differences of gender to describe the uniqueness of women. Having understood that development of depression varies on gender differences, it is also important to note that there are other differences that facilitate this condition.