title: Gender Differences in Perceived Social Support and Stressful Life Events in Depressed Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the gender differences in perceived social support and life events in patients with depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 118 patients aged 18 to 60 years, with depressive disorder according to the DSM-IV-TR, were evaluated using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and Presumptive Stressful Life Events Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The perceived social support score was significantly higher in males than females (p < 0.001). Males perceived significantly higher social support from friends than females (p < 0.001), whereas support from significant others was higher in females. There was a higher mean number of total life events as well as specific type of life events in males that became apparent after controlling for education (p < 0.05). Financial loss or problems was the most commonly reported life event in both males and females. Work-related problems were more commonly reported by males, whereas family and marital conflict were more frequently reported by females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perceived social support and stressful life events were higher in males with depression than females.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India 576104.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India 576104.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Dr A. V. Baliga Memorial Hospital, Doddanagudde, Udupi, Karnataka, India 576102.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Latha
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India 576104.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Praharaj
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012938:Social Perception; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Depression; Life change events; Social support