Why women more likely to suffer to suffer from depression:

Women experience major depression at a higher rate than men, this is regardless of race or ethnicity. A large-scale
2017 study found that these differences begin at age 12 with women being twice as likely to experience depression.
Several risk factors could account for these gender differences in the rates of depression.

Hormonal Differences: The peak of depression in women coincides with their reproductive years. Estrogen and
progestesterone have been shown to affect neurotransmitters, neuroendo circadian are shown implicated in mood
disorders. Women can experience mood disorders associated with their menstrual cycle (characterized by
depressive symptoms that occur prior to the start of the menstrual cycle). Womens risk of depression declines
during the menopause. The peri menopausal period is a time of increased for those with a history of major
depression. Other hormonal factors may be sex differences related to thyroyd function and hypothalamic pituitary
adrenal.

Socialization Differences: Gender differences in socialization plays a role in rates of depression. Girls are taught to
be nurturing and sensitive to the opinions of others. While boys are encouraged toughness, and the avoidance of
anything feminine or any displays of emotion. This socialization may cause depression to manifest differently in
men.

Social Roles: Women who become housewives and mothers find their roles devalued by society. While women who
pursue a career however are discriminated against by job inequalities or conflicts between their role as a wife and
mother and their career.

Coping Style: Women use more emotion focused coping mechanisms. Mulling problems over in their minds; whilst
men use more distracting mechanisms to forget their troubles.

Stressful life events: Women experience more stressful life events then men and experience a greater sensitivity
towards them. During adolescence girls report more stressful life events related to their relationships with their
peers and parents. Studies found that women are more likely to become depressed due to life events and experience
a stressful event prior to a major depressive episode.

Diagnosis Differences: Researchers have suggested that there may be no difference in the prevalence of depression
instead researchers have proposed the idea that women seek help more often than men causing them to be
diagnosed more often. Research indicates men and women experience depression differently as well as depression in
men being under diagnosed.
Men are also more likely to describe depressive symptoms as stress rather than sadness.