Introduction
Clinical depression not only reduces the quality of life and causes temporary disability, but in the most severe cases, can lead to death. It is more difficult to judge the real epidemic situation due to imperfect methods of counting and medical diagnostics, which differ even within a group of countries with a developed healthcare system.
However, it is revealed in this paper that such diversity lenses as gender and ethnicity play a primary role in the predisposition and development of depression. There is a stable relationship between the level of depression and gender and ethnicity, which is expressed in an increased risk of belonging to the female sex and ethnicities that have more conservative customs.
Literature Review
One hundred twenty-one million people in the world suffer from depression, which implies a whole complex of symptoms that distinguish this serious pathology from just a bad mood (Abrams & Mehta, 2019). The significant findings from the research through the gender lens of diversity indicate that depression is diagnosed in women more often than in men (Farrés, 2023). The differences apply to all types of depressive disorder: seasonal affective disorder, dysthymia, and atypical depression (Hargrove et al., 2021).
Women show a more prolonged course of depression than men, and they are more likely to have recurrent depressive disorder – a disease in which depressive episodes occur repeatedly (Hargrove et al., 2021). Moreover, women with depression have higher weight gain, pronounced somatic symptoms, and anxiety symptoms compared to men (Veerman, 2023). Studies show that women with depression respond better to SSRI antidepressants than men (Blackdeer et al., 2021). Thus, estrogen, inherent in women, can be the driver not only of the depressive process itself but also of its treatment.
The main conclusions from the research using ethnicity as a lens show that genetic predisposition to depression is far less common in collectivist cultures, which are those where individualistic values do not rule. Genes, the environment, and their interactions all have a role in the development of depression (Blackdeer et al., 2021). One of the most distinctive traits, as cultural psychology demonstrates, is the way individuals perceive themselves within their respective cultural groupings (Farrés, 2023).
To put it another way, Western society is more prone to genetic predisposition to depression than East Asian culture (Blackdeer et al., 2021). This is because the former places more emphasis on the idea of “We” than on the idea of “Me and everyone else” (Abrams & Mehta, 2019). Thus, ethnicity determines the nature of social interactions, thus establishing a place in society with a consequent predisposition to depression or its absence.
Analysis and Discussion
Regarding the gender lenses of diversity, the literature says that women are diagnosed with depression more frequently than men (Farrés, 2023). All forms of depressive disorder, including atypical depression, dysthymia, and seasonal affective disorder, differ in certain ways. Women experience depression for longer than men do, and they are also more likely to suffer from recurrent depressive disorder, a condition in which depressed episodes recur frequently.
In addition, compared to men, women with depression experience more weight gain, more intense physical symptoms, and anxiety symptoms. Studies reveal that SSRI antidepressants work better on women than on males who have depression (Blackdeer et al., 2021). Therefore, estrogen, which is a characteristic of women, may be the primary factor in both the onset and management of depression.
According to the literature, collectivist cultures—those in which individualistic beliefs do not predominate—are characterized by a significantly lower prevalence of genetic susceptibility to depression. Depression develops as a result of interactions between genes and the environment. Cultural psychology shows that one of the most distinctive characteristics is how people view themselves within their own cultural groups.
To put it another way, East Asian culture is less likely than Western society to have a genetic tendency to depression (Blackdeer et al., 2021). This is because the former emphasizes the concept of “We” more than it does the concept of “Me and everyone else” (Abrams & Mehta, 2019). As a result, ethnicity shapes social relationships and establishes a person’s place in society, which may or may not be associated with a predisposition to sadness.
The interactions between gender and ethnic diversity lenses help me better understand the topic. This is due to various biochemical processes occurring in both male and female bodies, as well as genetic characteristics associated with different ethnicities (Hargrove et al., 2021). For example, depression diagnosis, course, and treatment are different for a Chinese male than for a Slavic female. This is caused by the environmental attitude and psychological characteristics inherent in both gender and nationality, which also impact the disease (Hargrove et al., 2021).
In addition to biological differences between individuals, there is a separation of their social roles, forms of activity, behavioral differences, and emotional characteristics (Farrés, 2023). These factors are primarily determined by a person’s ethnicity and gender (Blackdeer et al., 2021). Therefore, people of the same sex, but of different ethnicity, or, on the contrary, of the same ethnicity, but of different genders, will be differently susceptible to depression.
Implications
This study will help psychologists, therapists, and other mental health professionals better understand how gender and ethnicity, as well as different combinations of these factors, affect depression. Based on my research-related learnings, I think these findings should have an impact on the moral norms that regulate conduct and behavior in the psychological community. For example, they point out that it is crucially important to pay attention to the severity of different groups of symptoms of depression in the diagnosis, depending on the gender or ethnicity of the patient (Farrés, 2023).
Representatives of eastern cultures are more restrained in their emotions, and Western cultures are more open, so they will show auto and exo symptoms of depression in various combinations (Hargrove et al., 2021). This may lead to a more flexible standard format for the depression questionnaire in the future, which would have practical implications for its application.
Conclusion
This paper has fulfilled the intended purpose identified in the thesis statement, as it was proven that depression is more often associated with the female sex and more traditional countries are two ways that gender, ethnicity, and depression severity are related. This is caused by differences in biochemical and social processes affecting the development and course of depression.
Prevention of depression is reduced to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, managing emotions and stress, maintaining social ties, and seeking help if necessary. If a person has gender and ethnic factors that place them at risk, it is necessary to be more attentive to their mental health to take appropriate measures in case of symptoms of depression.
References
Abrams, L. R., & Mehta, N. K. (2019). Changes in depressive symptoms over age among older Americans: Differences by gender, race/ethnicity, education, and birth cohort. SSM – Population Health, 13(2), 140-149.
Blackdeer, A. A., Wolf, D. A., Maguin, E., & Beeler-Stinn, S. (2021). Depression and anxiety among college students: Understanding the impact on grade average and differences in gender and ethnicity. Journal of American College Health, 11(3), 1-12.
Farrés, H. (2023, Aug 8). The gender imbalance in mental health: Exploring the relationship between stress, depression, and gender. Breaking Latest News.
Hargrove, T. W., Halpern, C. T., Gaydosh, L., Hussey, J. M., Whitsel, E. A., Dole, N., Hummer, R. A., & Harris, K. M. (2021). Race/ethnicity, gender, and trajectories of depressive symptoms across early- and mid-life among the add health cohort. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 7(4), 619-629.
Veerman, A. (2023). Depression: Are we misinterpreting sadness in young people? Rival Times.