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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

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01.06.2006 | ORIGINAL PAPER

Negative life events, social support and gender difference in depression

A multinational community survey with data from the ODIN study

verfasst von: Odd Steffen Dalgard, Christopher Dowrick, Ville Lehtinen, Jose Luis Vazquez-Barquero, Patricia Casey, Greg Wilkinson, Jose Luis Ayuso-Mateos, Helen Page, Graham Dunn, The ODIN Group

Erschienen in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Ausgabe 6/2006

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Abstract

Objective

To explore if differences in negative life events, vulnerability and social support may explain the gender difference in depression.

Methods

Cross-sectional, multinational, community survey from five European countries (n = 8,787). Depression is measured by Beck Depression Inventory, whereas negative life events and social support are measured by various questionnaires.

Results

Women report slightly more negative life events than men do, mainly related to the social network, but more social support in general and in connection with reported life events. This trend is the same in all participating countries except Spain, where there is no gender difference in the reported support. In general, women are not more vulnerable to negative life events than men are. However, women with no social support, who are exposed to life events, are more vulnerable than men without support.

Conclusion

The higher rate of depression in women is not explained by gender differences in negative life events, social support or vulnerability.

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Titel: Negative life events, social support and gender difference in depression
A multinational community survey with data from the ODIN study
verfasst von: Odd Steffen Dalgard
Christopher Dowrick
Ville Lehtinen
Jose Luis Vazquez-Barquero
Patricia Casey
Greg Wilkinson
Jose Luis Ayuso-Mateos
Helen Page
Graham Dunn
The ODIN Group
Publikationsdatum: 01.06.2006
Verlag: Steinkopff-Verlag
Erschienen in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Ausgabe 6/2006
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Elektronische ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0051-5

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Negative life events, social support and gender difference in depression

A multinational community survey with data from the ODIN study