Why Do Women Experience Depression More Often Than Men Do

Researchers have known for years that women experience depression more often than men do, but the reason for this gender difference has not been clear. A new study, published in the November 1999 issue of the American Psychological Association's (APA) Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, provides some answers by showing how social conditions and personality characteristics affect each other and contribute to the gender differences in depressive symptoms. In the study, psychologists Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, Ph.…

…difficult to overcome either one. So what is a depressed woman, under chronic strain and ruminating or lacking a belief that she can control her life, to do? The authors conclude "helping women achieve a greater sense of control over their circumstances and engage in problem solving rather than ruminating should be useful. Changing the social circumstances that many women face so that they do not have so much to ruminate about is equally important."