Gender differences in adolescent depressive symptomatology:: Towards an integrated social-developmental model

Research has consistently shown that females are twice as likely to be depressed as males, and that this difference emerges as early as adolescence. One explanation for this finding is that Sender socialization practices may foster the development of a depressogenic interpersonal style in girls. Specifically, traditional feminine socialization may promote girls to sacrifice their own needs in the service of caring for others, and to inhibit the expression of their own thoughts and preferences in their relationships. The erosion of self this entails may be linked to the experience of depressive symptomatology. The present study tested this hypothesis in a sample of 339 adolescents, finding that those who felt overly responsible for the welfare of others, and who experienced difficulties being assertive in their relationships, experienced higher levels of depressive symptomatology. Additionally, greater gender differentiation was found among older than among younger adolescents on these feminine role-related characteristics, supporting the gender intensification hypothesis. Findings may help explain why females do not show higher levels of depressive symptomatology themselves until after puberty.