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Figure 2 that shows the rates of major depression among boys and girls is shocking. 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 10 boys have been diagnosed with major depression. I
by twayt 4y ago
Figure 2 that shows the rates of major depression among boys and girls is shocking.
1 in 4 girls and 1 in 10 boys have been diagnosed with major depression.
I wonder what the distribution is of others who haven't been diagnosed or deal with depression to a lower degree.
Something that may be surprising to some people is that this trend isn't limited to boys and girls.
From data collected in 2019/2020, 30% of people aged 18-25 years in the USA have diagnosed mental health issues. This number is skewed heavily towards women too.
Source: Table 8.1B
https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2020-nsduh-detailed-tables https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2020-nsduh-detailed-table...
- tristor 4y ago> This number is skewed heavily towards women too All of the data I've seen on the mental health crisis in the West seems to indicate that it hits women harder than men. I have yet to see an explanation for why, though. Does anyone know of any articles that thoroughly cover this gender split in mental health and why this particular issue is more predominantly affecting women?
- odessacubbage 4y agocould it be that women are more likely to seek treatment for mental illness? also to the degree that mental illnesses are gender variant, some are more pro social and less subject to stigma than others.
- Mordisquitos 4y agoI have some recent anecdata on the topic. When browsing Google Maps reviews to compare psychotherapists in my area, the overwhelming majority of the reviews are from women.
- ThalesX 4y agoI'm not sure if this translates to other countries, but in my back of the woods, the whole field is basically women.
- watwut 4y agoThere are tons of proposed explanations. Starting with "during covid, boys were less isolated due to them socializing via computer games way more then girls". Continuing through "different body standards and societal expectations" (tho those did not changed in covid). In addition, some mental illnesses are simply genetically more prevalent in one gender then in the other. Those are all speculations tho. Historically, also issues like alcoholism, anorexia, drug use had different rates between genders. It is not unprecedented for one gender to be affected differently then the other.
- odessacubbage 4y agoanorexia could be viewed as part and parcel with the kind of body dysmorphia that is often displayed in weightlifters, not to mention anorexia is also seen at heightened rates among gays and mtf transgenders.
- twayt 4y agoThe most common argument I've heard is that women are more likely to seek help than men since mental health issues are more stigmatized in men.
- tomp 4y agoNot all the data. Women attempt more suicides, but men commit more suicides. Some people say that this trend looks to be reversing in teens (girls committing more suicides) but not sure that’s already clear in the data.
- imoverclocked 4y agoMaybe a good place to start: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(16)30348-0/fulltext https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0... It cites many sources including biological and social, however: > ... we still do not really understand the causes of these differences, and comparatively little research has been done to explain them.
- joeberon 4y ago
- watwut 4y agoTable 8.1B is "Any Mental Illness in Past Year" Edited to add: the note under graph says "These mental illness estimates are based on a predictive model and are not direct measures of diagnostic status."
- twayt 4y ago8.36B if you want a direct comparison for major depression. I still think that "Any Mental Illness in Past Year" is a lot more interesting because it includes other mental illnesses like anxiety.
- watwut 4y agoThat table shows "Serious Mental Illness" and does not show 1 in 4 girls being diagnozed in any age range.
- twayt 4y agoI don't know if you actually looked at the link in this post. The 1 in 4 number is from the original study linked in this post. Girls and boys refer specifically to females and males under 18.