Comparing depressive symptoms in teenage boys and girls

Abstract

Introduction:Symptoms of depression vary between the males and females. Depressed men show behaviors such as irritability, restlessness, difficulty in concentrating, and instead of the usual behaviors. Sleep disturbance is a common symptom in depressed men. Men are less likely to go to doctors and unconsciously show other behaviors such as anger instead of the sadness. It seems that considering depression as “feminine” is a great injustice toward male patients whom their illness will not be diagnosed nor treated.Materials and Methods:The sample consisted of 191 depressed adolescents, 108 males and 83 females aged 13–19 years old. Data collected for 10 years from 2005 to 2015 and their depressive symptoms were evaluated by the Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition.Results:Depressed girls felt sadness, guilt, punishment, worthlessness, low energy and fatigue, or more asthenia, whereas depressed boys have symptoms such as irritability, depression, suicidal thoughts, or desires to reduce their pleasure. The results of t-test showed that the difference between the total scores of boys and girls with depressive disorder (16.93) is significant at 0.001. F values for feeling sad (58.13), hatred of self (12.38), suicidal thoughts or desires (12.97), restlessness (17.35), and irritability (46. 41) were significant in the 0.001.Conclusion:Experiencing depression in boys and girls according to the role of gender was different. Gender can have an effective role in showing depression symptoms in adolescents.

The prevalence of depression among adolescent with HIV/AIDS: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…As expected, our study showed that the prevalence of depression was highest in females than males and the older adolescents than younger adolescents, which were in agreement with the reported prevalence rates of depression from adolescents in the general populations, cancer patients, as well as refugees and asylum seekers and [ 42 – 44 ]. The possible reasons for the gender differences in the prevalence of depression include adverse experiences in childhood and adolescence, the sociocultural roles of adverse events (psychological trauma), sexual abuse and the variations in coping skills [ 45 , 46 ].…”

Behavioral, cognitive and histological changes following neonatal anoxia: Male and female rats' differences at adolescent age

“…Sex is a major predictor of an individual's susceptibility to mental disease. For instance, females are more susceptible than males to develop anxiety and depression during adolescence (about 70%), which may persist for lifetime (Khesht-Masjedi et al, 2017). These mental disorders seem related to environmental disruption of developmental programs, related to genetic predispositions, most likely involving a combination of both.…”

The Impact of Relational Adverse Childhood Experiences on Suicide Outcomes During Early and Young Adulthood

“…However, any competent explanation of such difference should take into account the social context in which such events were experienced. For example, Iranian female teenagers generally experienced a higher degree of distress symptoms (Javadi, Jourabchi, Shafikhani, & Tajik, 2017), which might become entangled with their higher vulnerability to experience selfdegrading feelings of guilt and punishment during depressive moods (Khesht-Masjedi, Shokrgozar, Abdollahi, Golshahi, & Sharif-Ghaziani, 2017). This compromised situation might heighten their willingness to take their own lives, particularly when family relations and interpersonal experiences, instead of being a sanctuary during childhood, became a liability.…”