Gender differences in depression prevalence: the role of inflammation and somatic symptoms

The higher prevalence of depression among women compared to men, beginning at adolescence, has been widely reported. Several studies reviewed here suggest that much of this difference results because women exhibit a much higher prevalence than men beginning in adolescence of a disorder in...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Brett Silverstein, Deborah Perlick
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Academia.edu Journals 2024-07-01
Series:Academia Mental Health & Well-Being
Online Access:https://www.academia.edu/122452050/Gender_differences_in_depression_prevalence_the_role_of_inflammation_and_somatic_symptoms
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849327566496727040
author Brett Silverstein
Deborah Perlick
author_facet Brett Silverstein
Deborah Perlick
author_sort Brett Silverstein
collection DOAJ
description The higher prevalence of depression among women compared to men, beginning at adolescence, has been widely reported. Several studies reviewed here suggest that much of this difference results because women exhibit a much higher prevalence than men beginning in adolescence of a disorder involving depression combined with many somatic symptoms. Also reviewed here are many studies that have found that high levels of inflammation lead to the development of depression plus these somatic symptoms. Finally, a few studies reviewed here suggest the hypothesis that inflammation may result from low social status experienced by women. More research is needed to test this hypothesis. The combination of these brief reviews suggests that a major role in explaining the higher prevalence of depression among females beginning at adolescence may be played by somatic depression resulting from inflammation possibly precipitated by low status.
format Article
id doaj-art-a33d050b4abf4cd792c50c65bc3b34c6
institution Kabale University
issn 2997-9196
language English
publishDate 2024-07-01
publisher Academia.edu Journals
record_format Article
series Academia Mental Health & Well-Being
spelling doaj-art-a33d050b4abf4cd792c50c65bc3b34c62025-08-20T03:47:49ZengAcademia.edu JournalsAcademia Mental Health & Well-Being2997-91962024-07-011210.20935/MHealthWellB7290Gender differences in depression prevalence: the role of inflammation and somatic symptomsBrett Silverstein0Deborah Perlick1Psychology Department, City College of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA.Psychology Department, City College of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA. The higher prevalence of depression among women compared to men, beginning at adolescence, has been widely reported. Several studies reviewed here suggest that much of this difference results because women exhibit a much higher prevalence than men beginning in adolescence of a disorder involving depression combined with many somatic symptoms. Also reviewed here are many studies that have found that high levels of inflammation lead to the development of depression plus these somatic symptoms. Finally, a few studies reviewed here suggest the hypothesis that inflammation may result from low social status experienced by women. More research is needed to test this hypothesis. The combination of these brief reviews suggests that a major role in explaining the higher prevalence of depression among females beginning at adolescence may be played by somatic depression resulting from inflammation possibly precipitated by low status.https://www.academia.edu/122452050/Gender_differences_in_depression_prevalence_the_role_of_inflammation_and_somatic_symptoms
spellingShingle Brett Silverstein
Deborah Perlick
Gender differences in depression prevalence: the role of inflammation and somatic symptoms
Academia Mental Health & Well-Being
title Gender differences in depression prevalence: the role of inflammation and somatic symptoms
title_full Gender differences in depression prevalence: the role of inflammation and somatic symptoms
title_fullStr Gender differences in depression prevalence: the role of inflammation and somatic symptoms
title_full_unstemmed Gender differences in depression prevalence: the role of inflammation and somatic symptoms
title_short Gender differences in depression prevalence: the role of inflammation and somatic symptoms
title_sort gender differences in depression prevalence the role of inflammation and somatic symptoms
url https://www.academia.edu/122452050/Gender_differences_in_depression_prevalence_the_role_of_inflammation_and_somatic_symptoms
work_keys_str_mv AT brettsilverstein genderdifferencesindepressionprevalencetheroleofinflammationandsomaticsymptoms
AT deborahperlick genderdifferencesindepressionprevalencetheroleofinflammationandsomaticsymptoms