Human Growth & Development

Human Growth & Development

Gender Differences in Adolescent Depression

With the prevalence of mental health disorders being on the rise, the focus has started being directed to different population groups to identify whether certain issues are specific to a given group of people. This is essential in informing the interventions that will be taken to address this upcoming problem. The risk of adolescents suffering from depression stands at 15-20%. Factors such as high levels of stress and loss at this stage increase the risk of developing depression. The occurrence of depression varies significantly between male and female adolescents. Individual, family, and social factors are the contributors to the occurrence of depression witnessed among members of this population group. The effects of depression during adolescence are likely to persist into the later stages of life and may be a hindrance to the exploitation of one’s potential. When adolescents eventually get into parenting while depressed, they are not in a position to create a positive environment for their children, which creates a cycle of depression along the family line. Therefore, there is a need to come up with programs that are specially designed for adolescents to help them cope with the changes at this stage.

Causes of Depression among Adolescents

Research studies have shown that adolescent females have a depression rate that is twice that of their male counterparts. This report has been consistent for studies conducted among 15 and 16-year-old adolescents. This occurrence has been traced down to the fact that puberty among females occurs earlier than in males. As a result, girls start to experience body changes that, in some cases, make them victims of discrimination. Females are more prone to having negative body images than males. This negative self-image can trigger depression. It is at this point that most adolescent females start to focus on their food intake, and eventually develop eating disorders. The urge to look like certain people in the society, especially celebrities may push them to avoid certain foods or adopt habits that prevent the utilization of ‘excess’ nutrients such as inducing vomiting after eating, among others. In addition to this, females have also been shown to have a tendency to get immersed in deep thoughts and amplify the situation, a factor that makes them more prone to adverse side effects as opposed to the males. Although these factors hold true for many cultures, a more recent study conducted across a larger age group of 11 to 22 years revealed that there were more males affected by depression than females. This study explained that the males involved in this study focused more on stressful life events, and they had less positive coping techniques..

Adolescence is a stage largely characterized by identity. It is at this point that most teens want to have a sense of belonging and identify with a given group of people. If this is not achieved, a feeling of rejection starts setting in, and because they do not feel accepted into any community group, depression is likely to set in. At this point, adolescents have been noted to be driven by peer pressure and may fall into activities that are not morally acceptable such as drug and substance abuse.

Certain family factors have also been noted to be key contributors to the development of depression among adolescents. Such include having a parent who is a victim of depression, having parents who are not emotionally supportive, the conflict between parents and financial constraints. Adolescents tend to be needy of attention, affection, love, and guidance. These can be obtained with ease from parents since they are already familiar with them. Parenting is also key in the values and characters that a child picks up. Therefore, the factors mentioned above make a parent unavailable at a time when the child needs their support the most. One may start to draw a comparison with their peers who may have a supportive parent, making them develop feelings of rejection that lead to depression. The needs of adolescents differ by gender, and this calls for both parents to be involved in the lives of their children to cover the gaps that are often witnessed in upbringing. Attending parenting classes can also help parents know what to do at the different stages of development to enhance positive psychological development.

Poor relationships between parents and adolescents have been seen to affect females more than it affects males. Females are particularly vulnerable when they live in non-supportive households. Vulnerability-stress models show that females are more likely to be affected by issues surrounding family than males of their nature to ruminate and amplify situations. Males have been shown to engage in high-risk behaviors instead, when faced with stressful situations.

Depressive tendencies among adolescents are also triggered by poor relationships with peers. This affects females more than it affects males. Lack of a close relationship with a best friend, having fewer interactions with friends, being in the company of friends who are depressed, and experiencing peer rejection increase the risk for developing depression in adolescence. These situations can come up when parents are against interactions with certain people, or when peers turn up against each other. Additionally, problems in romantic relationships during adolescence can also trigger depression. It is important to establish social support for adolescents to enable them to cope with issues in an environment where they can express themselves freely.

Effects of Depression                               

The prevalence and severity ratings for symptoms of depression among adolescents have been shown to be slightly similar, with significant variations. For instance, depressed females have a greater sense of guilt, blame themselves more, are disappointed with self, feel like they are failures, have challenges with concentration, experience difficulties working, are often sad, suffer insomnia and fatigue, and express health concerns more often than males. On the other hand, depressed males have a higher clinical rating for social withdrawal, a depressed morning mood, and fatigue that tends to be dominant during the morning hours. An overall sense of hopelessness has been identified among adolescents diagnosed with depression.

Recommendations

More research needs to be done in the area of depression among adolescents. This group of people is highly productive and can contribute to the significant growth of different sectors across the globe when their potential is not compromised by mental health issues. Intervention programs can be established within school settings since this is where the majority of the adolescents come together. This will help reach out to a greater number of adolescents since there is a likelihood that most adolescents who are depressed are not aware and have not been assessed for the disorder. The health-seeking behavior of males and females, in general, can also be a contributing factor to the current statistics. It is, therefore, important to ensure that all adolescents have been reached out to in equal measure. Family-based interventions can also create a good base for the management of depression in adolescents.

Conclusion  

Depression among adolescents is an issue that cannot be ignored. Gender differences have been identified in the causing factors for depression and in the severity of symptoms. However, these differences have been shown to vary significantly across cultures. As a result, it is important to have the interventions tailored to meet the needs of individuals in different cultures. It is also evident that parental involvement in the entire process is required to increase the number of positive outcomes, even in treatment.