1 Psychology 320: Gender Psychology Lecture 55

2 Announcements 1. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Jill must cancel her office hour next week. However, she is available via e- mail to address any questions that you may have. 2. David will attend the start of class on Wednesday, March 31 st, to review the procedure needed to submit your paper to TurnItIn.

3 Physical Health and Mental Health: 2. Are there sex differences in: (a) depression, (b) eating disorders, (c) personality disorders, and (d) suicide? 1. What factors account for sex differences in health? (continued)

4 3. Gender-Related Factors (a) Job Characteristics  In general, males are more likely than females to be employed in hazardous jobs (e.g., manual labour positions; Donkin et al., 2002). What factors account for sex differences in health? (continued)

5 (b) Risky Behaviour  Males engage in riskier activities than females. Moreover, when engaged in risky activities, males take greater risks than females (Waldron, 1997). “d” obtained in a meta-analysis of 150 risk-taking behaviour studies=.13 (Byrnes et al., 1999). Males score higher than females in “sensation- seeking” (Zuckerman, 1994).

6 Examples of Items from the Sensation Seeking Scale (Zuckerman, 1965) I sometimes like to do things that are a little frightening. A sensible person avoids activities that are dangerous. * I like to have new and exciting experiences and sensations even if they are frightening, unconventional, or illegal. Almost everything enjoyable is illegal or immoral. I get bored seeing the same old faces. I like the comfortable familiarity of everyday friends. * * Reverse-scored items.

7 (c) The Nurturant Role  Females are socialized to take care of others. According to the nurturant role hypothesis, this may contribute to higher rates of morbidity among females (Gove, 1984): greater exposure to infectious disease. greater fatigue and vulnerability to illness. less opportunity to care for oneself when sick.

8 (d) Gender-Related Traits  Agency is associated with greater physical activity, greater perceived health, fewer physical symptoms, and better health (Danoff-Burg et al., 2002; Ghaed & Gallo, 2006).  Unmitigated agency is associated with feelings of invulnerability and greater risk-taking, both of which may contribute to illness and death (Danoff-Burg et al., 2002; Ghaed & Gallo, 2006).

9  Communion is unrelated to physical health (Ghaed & Gallo, 2006; Helgeson, 1994).  Unmitigated communion is associated with poorer health practices, more physical symptoms, and poorer health (Ghaed & Gallo, 2006; Helgeson & Fritz, 1998).

10 Are there sex differences in depression? According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), major depressive disorder (i.e., clinical depression) is characterized by five or more of the following symptoms, present for at least 2 weeks:

11 Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day.* Markedly diminished interest in activities.* Significant weight loss. Insomnia. Psychomotor agitation or retardation. Fatigue or loss of energy. Feelings of worthlessness. Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness. Recurrent thoughts of death. * One of these symptoms must be included in the five symptoms. DSM-IV-TR Criteria for Major Depressive Disorder (APA, 2000)

12 Sample Items from the Center for Epidemiological Studies in Depression Scale (Radloff, 1977) 1. I did not like eating; my appetite was poor. 2. I felt I could not shake off the blues even with the help of my family or friends. 3. I felt that I was just as good as other people.* 4. I had trouble keeping my mind on what I was doing. 5. I felt depressed. 6. I felt that everything I did was an effort. 7. I thought my life had been a failure. 8. My sleep was restless. 9. I felt lonely. 10. People were unfriendly. 11. I enjoyed life.* 12. I had crying spells. 13. I felt sad. 14. I felt that people disliked me. 15. I could not get “going.” * Reverse-scored items.

13 Females are more likely than males to suffer from depression: In the general population, females are two times more likely than males to report depressive symptoms (Culbertson, 1997). In clinical samples, females are two to four times more likely than males to be diagnosed with major depressive disorder (Culbertson, 1997; Kessler, 2003)

14 Sex differences in rates of major depressive disorder emerge in adolescence, peak in young adulthood, and subsequently decrease, with the elderly showing no sex difference in depression (Statistics Canada, 2001). Current estimates indicate that 6% of Canadian females and 3% of Canadian males suffer from major depressive disorder (Statistics Canada, 2001).

15 Percent Rates of Depression in Past Year by Sex and Age (Statistics Canada, 2001)

16 Physical Health and Mental Health: 2. Are there sex differences in: (a) depression, (b) eating disorders, (c) personality disorders, and (d) suicide? 1. What factors account for sex differences in health? (continued)