Is Depression Different in Women and Men?

Depression is characterized by a core set of symptoms including low mood, lack of motivation, loss of pleasure in activities and hobbies, changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, feelings of guilt, and difficulty concentrating. Understanding how each contributing factor affects a person’s risk and symptoms could lead to more effective treatment.

Biological Sex, Gender Identity, and Depression

On their own, biological sex and gender differences may not have a powerful impact.

• When combined with other factors, such as life stressors, sexism, toxic masculinity, trauma, and co-occurring mental health conditions, these influences may make a person more prone to depression.

Undefining Masculinity

Research has indicated that men are often more likely to express depression in ways that differ from the more “classic” presentation. This difference may be one reason why depression in men is often missed or attributed to other causes.

• Misusing alcohol or other substances
• Irritability, frequent outbursts, or “explosive” anger
• Risk-taking
• Escapism
• Controlling, violent, and unpredictable behavior

Sexual Minorities

Biological and social stressors can also be overwhelming for people in sexual minority groups

• Rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide are high in the LGBTQ+ community
• Research also indicates that the increased risk of depression in transgender people, including those who are nonbinary, starts young
• Transgender people seeking gender affirmation surgery who are unable to access support and treatment are at an even greater risk for depression and suicide

Biological Sex

A 2019 study published in the journal Progress in Neurobiology proposed that biological sex differences could influence not just how depression manifests in men and women, but how it responds to treatment.

• The study examined postmortem brain tissue samples from 50 subjects to see if there were any differences between the brains of people who had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder and those who had not
• Most of the genetic changes the researchers noted occurred in only the male or female brains, but not both
• Female brains expressed more of the genes that determine synaptic activity, while male brains expressed less

Impact on Depression Treatment

One of the foremost questions for researchers is whether studies on the effect of biological sex and gender could lead to improved treatment for everyone with depression

• While each person’s experience of depression depends on many factors-not just biological sex or gender identity-identifying important differences could help doctors prescribe treatments or even lead to new treatments.

Gender Roles and Identity

Research indicates that women who are depressed are more likely to show “typical” (or recognizable) emotional symptoms, such as crying

• Women also tend to show more symptoms of depression than men
• This observation is one example of how social factors influence the way people experience and express their emotions
• Some women struggle to express their feelings while some men may be comfortable doing so
• Broadly speaking, Western society’s traditional gender roles accept women openly expressing their feelings

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