Cited by 2,376Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentMental Health Treatment and Access

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Gender differences in depression: Critical review

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Piccinelli, Marco, Wilkinson, Greg·2000·British Journal of Psychiatry

DOI 10.1192/bjp.177.6.486

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Abstract

Background: With few exceptions, the prevalence, incidence and morbidity risk of depressive disorders are higher in females than in males, beginning at mid-puberty and persisting through adult life. Aims: To review putative risk factors leading to gender differences in depressive disorders. Method: A critical review of the literature, dealing separately with artefactual and genuine determinants of gender differences in depressive disorders. Results: Although artefactual determinants may enhance a female preponderance to some extent, gender differences in depressive disorders are genuine. At present, adverse experiences in childhood, depression and anxiety disorders in childhood and adolescence, sociocultural roles with related adverse experiences, and psychological attributes related to vulnerability to life events and coping skills are likely to be involved. Genetic and biological factors and poor social support, however, have few or no effects in the emergence of gender differences. Conclusions: Determinants of gender differences in depressive disorders are far from being established and their combination into integrated aetiological models continues to be lacking.

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Authors: Piccinelli, M., & Wilkinson, G.
Affiliations: Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione Macchi (IT)
Royal Liverpool University Hospital (GB)
Corresponding author: Piccinelli, Marco
ORCID: Piccinelli, Marco
Wilkinson, Greg
Venue: British Journal of Psychiatry
Publisher: Royal College of Psychiatrists
Published: 2000-12
Volume: 177
Issue: 6
Pages: 486-492
ISSN: 0007-1250 (ISSN-L)
1472-1465
DOI: 10.1192/bjp.177.6.486
OpenAlex: W2055218553
Cited by: 2,376
References: 76
Citations by year: 2026: 62 · 2025: 94 · 2024: 88 · 2023: 72 · 2022: 90 · 2021: 118 · 2020: 109 · 2019: 138 · 2018: 142 · 2017: 175 · 2016: 134 · 2015: 159 · 2014: 134 · 2013: 114 · 2012: 112
FWCI: 4.35
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: bronze
doi.org
Licence: www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified, 6241 d)
Locations: The British Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Mental Health Treatment and Access
Keywords: gender differences, depressive disorders, women, risk factors, childhood adversity, childhood anxiety disorders, coping strategies, life events, genetic factors, social support, etiology
MeSH terms: Adaptation, Psychological, Depressive Disorder, Family, Female, Humans, Male, Norepinephrine, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Risk Factors, Serotonin, Sex Factors, Social Support, Stress, Psychological, Prevalence, Disease Progression

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