GENDER, DEPRESSION, AND SUICIDE

Gender, Depression, and Suicide

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to find out the degree to which gender plays a role in the mental health problems and depression which lead to suicide. Traditionally it is perceived that the women go through the state of depression more frequently and in a large number than men, but this study found that the reverse is true. The study findings suggest that men face depression in greater proportion than women. A chi square test was conducted based on the questionnaire, which resulted in significantly relevant values thus negating the hypothesis.

Table of Contents

Introduction4

Theory4

Association between Atypical Depression and Traditional Depression7

Hypothesis7

Method7

Participants7

Sample limitations8

Procedure9

Sample design9

The Analysis and Findings9

Measures of depression and suicide risk on the basis of gender (chi square test)10

Depression scale factors and gender10

References11

Appendices12

Gender, Depression, and Suicide

Introduction

Gender is turning into an increasingly important issue in understanding the emotional and physical health particularly depression. It has been reported that in the psychological literature, the depressive symptoms are much more prevalent among women than men. Diamond (2009) found that the ratio of women to men depression is two to one. A study conducted by the Epidemiological centre in United States showed the similar findings. A number of researchers are undertaken on the relationship of depression and suicide among the genders. Many believe that an important factor is that the traditional scale for the assessment of depression may be gender biased and fail to include the causes that are present in the depressed people. (Hart 2001), (Diamond, 2009). The clinical researchers including Cochran (2000) and Diamond (2004) suggested that the depressed women act as a result of gender role conditioning the expression of feelings and internal judgment on their inadequacies. While men act and externalize their sense of hopelessness. This paper aims to investigate whether the depressive symptoms like irritability, aggressiveness and anger are more prevalent in men or they are present in a greater extent among women. It will further assess whether the suicide risk is predicted by typical symptoms of depression (Hart 2001).

Theory

Atypical depression is characterized by mood reactivity with an elevated mood when good things happen. Overeating occurs with an increase in your weight. Too much sleep and a lot of sensitivity to rejection may also occur. More sensitivity in interpersonal relationships, chronic dysphasia intense feeling of despair is possible. It appears more in women with more limited disability and functioning. Women may use more health services. Childhood neglect and abuse occur more in this form of depression (Nowinski 2001).

Depression can occur due to their multiple ways to demonstrate and because of the multiplicity of causes is a bit difficult to define. However, in general terms be defined as a "morbid mental state characterized by lassitude, discouragement and fatigue often accompanied by anxiety more or less pronounced. Usually this is the state experienced by sufferers, a sense of sink slowly and gradually. Both depression and depression itself interfere with the person causing alterations in their environment, their family, work and sexuality (Nowinski ...