Psychosocial and Cultural Contributions to Depression in Women: Considerations for Women Midlife and Beyond

BACKGROUND: Women share a greater burden of mood disorders than men and have twice the prevalence rate of depression. OBJECTIVES: To highlight some of the psychosocial and cultural contributions to depression in women. SUMMARY: Multiple factors contribute directly or interact to precipitate the onset of depression. Genetics, stress life events, previous history of depression, and cognitive factors have been shown to be significant risk factors for future depression episodes. Life stressors contribute to the onset of depression in both men and women, but particular stressors affect the genders differently, with women identifying more closely with relationship issues, lack of adequate housing, and poverty. Women are also more frequently affected by physical and sexual abuse, which will significantly influence future episodes of depression. Depression does not discriminate on the basis of race. Women of all ethnic groups suffer from depression. However, research indicates that there may be differences in prevalence and treatment-seeking behavior in Black Americans, Mexican Americans, and White Americans. CONCLUSIONS: Many factors contribute to the occurrence of depression. Some of these occurrences may be explained by the changing hormonal milieu, susceptibility after physical or sexual abuse, poverty, housing problems, or loss of a close friend. One of the explanations for the higher rate of depression in women is that women have a greater incidence of first depressive episodes, which often begin during adolescence or young adulthood.