Gender Variability of Perceived Stress and Negative Inferential Feedback in Depression

BACKGROUND: The role of negative inferential feedback and perceived stress in hopelessness depression is known. However, studies on their gender variability are lacking. The difference in various domains of negative inferential feedback and its impact on cognitive hopelessness, depression, and outcome of psychotherapy between men and women has been hypothesized. AIMS: This study analyzed the difference in stress levels and hopelessness in the form of negative inferential feedback in depressed men and women. METHODOLOGY: In all, 35 men and 35 women suffering from depression were recruited. They were first assessed on the Hamilton's Depression Rating Scale, and their sociodemographical details were recorded. They were then administered the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Adaptive Inferential Feedback Questionnaire. RESULTS: Perceived stress in depressed women showed a positive correlation with negative inferential feedback (r = 0.39, P = 0.04). Levels of depression were comparable in the two genders. Comparison between the two genders showed no difference in proportion across the levels of severity of depression (χ(2) = 5.44, P = 0.14). Depressed women rated higher stress, mainly in the helplessness domain of the PSS (P = 0.04). Women were shown to have more negative inferential feedback and attribute their hopelessness to more stable and global causes when compared with men (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Depressed women perceive more stress and receive more negative feedback, than men, to negative life events. Women attribute their hopelessness to more stable and global causes when compared with men.