Revisiting sex differences in the expression of depression.

Abstract

Large samples of college students indicated the degree to which they would engage in a number of behaviors or cognitions if depressed. The rated items were gathered using procedures suggested by the behavioral-analytic model. Factor analyses were employed to categorize items into interpretable variables.Stepwise discriminant function analyses were performed to determine maximum separation of male and female groups. Results augmented previous findings in this area. Men and women showed distinct differences in the nature of their interpersonal behaviors as well as in cognitive styles for coping with depression. The findings suggest that there are sex differences in the expression of depression even in predominantly normal populations and reinforce the value of investigating theories of depression in the context of a continuity between normal mood states and depressive phenomena.We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the following individuals in various aspects of the study:

Cognitive versus behavioral coping responses of men and women: A brief report

“…In the few studies that have examined sex differences in coping behaviors and depression, there is evidence for gender differences (e.g., Funabiki, Bologna, Pepping, & Fitzgerald, 1980;Ilfeld, 1980;Rippere, 1976). For instance, such studies have agreed that women are more likely than men to cope by confiding in a friend.…”

Gender Differences in Severity, Symptomatology and Distribution of Melancholia in Major Depression

“…Seven [15,16,18,20,21,23,24] studies examined gender differences in severity of depression. Four of those [16,20,21,24] found no gender differences and 3 studies [15,18,23] found that women get higher total scores on depression rating scales than men. In table 1, the studies performed in clinical samples are summarized.…”

“…Studies concerning gender differences in the clinical presentation of depression have provided divergent results. Ten [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] studies concerned gender differences in clinical samples of depressive patients, whereas 11 [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] studies dealt with non-clinical samples such as college students [15] or undergraduate students [16].…”

L’« inexpressivité » masculine : des mythes et des faits

“…Par exemple, des analyses factorielles des réponses des hommes et des femmes au Beck Depression Inventory (Beck et al, 1961) indiquent que les hommes pleurent peu, sont agressifs et développent des problèmes somatiques (troubles du sommeil et tension). Les femmes pleurent et sont irritables (Funabiki et al, 1980;Nolen-Hoeksema, 1987). …”

“…Des données provenant de questionnaires montrent que les hommes parlent moins que les femmes des émotions négatives qu'ils ressentent (Aries et Johnson, 1983 ;Padesky et Hammen, 1981 ;Tschann, 1988). Contrairement à certaines femmes, ils ne manifestent pas de tendance à ruminer leurs émotions négatives et à les décrire dans un journal personnel (Funabiki et al, 1980). De plus, lorsqu'ils se sentent déprimés (selon les mesures du BDI), les hommes ne mentionnent jamais le mot «dépression» lorsqu'ils parlent aux autres de leurs problèmes (Fromkin et Warren, 1982, cit.…”