One of the most robust findings in psychiatric epidemiology concerns the gender gap in depression between men and women. A much less uniform relationship is observed between gender and depression when other age groups are examined. For example, among adolescents, some studies find no differences in depression by gender. Others identify a gender gap that emerges in late adolescence, usually after the age of 15. These equivocal findings may simply reflect inconsistencies in the literature concerning the appropriate age range with which to capture the adolescent period. To address this inconsistency, we present an examination of the emergence of the gender gap in depression across three national longitudinal panel studies of adolescent girls and boys from three different countries. The results suggest that when the total age ranges are examined for each sample, females have significantly higher levels of depression. However, when each sample is decomposed by age, the gender gap in depression consistently emerges by age 14 across all three populations irrespective of the measure employed. Identification of the age of emergence of gender differences in depression provides important etiologic clues concerning underlying causes of the gender gap in depression. Moreover, it identifies the specific age where treatment and intervention strategies should be directed in an effort to prevent or minimize long-term mental health related problems over the life course.
Learning Objectives: 1. Identify the age of onset of depression among adolescent boys and girls from the United States, Great Britain and Canada. 2. Gain a greater appreciation for the strengths and weaknesses of the epidemiologic method in this area of mental health. 3. Develop an awareness of how this information can inform policy and health promotion activities for this age group
Keywords: Adolescents, International, Mental Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.