Negative life events, social support and gender difference in depression: a multinational community survey with data from the ODIN study.
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.


CONCLUSIONS
The higher rate of depression in women is not explained by gender differences in negative life events, social support or vulnerability.
Norwegian Institute of Public health, P.B. 4404, Nydalen, 0403 Oslo, Norway. odd.steffen.dalgard@fhi.no
Odd Steffen
OS
Dalgard
Christopher
C
Dowrick
Ville
V
Lehtinen
Jose Luis
JL
Vazquez-Barquero
Patricia
P
Casey
Greg
G
Wilkinson
Jose Luis
JL
Ayuso-Mateos
Helen
H
Page
Graham
G
Dunn
D000328:Adult; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003625:Data Collection; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires