Depression in women and men, cumulative disadvantage and gender inequality in 29 European countries. (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bracke, Piet; Delaruelle, Katrijn; Dereuddre, Rozemarijn; Van de Velde, Sarah
• Is Part Of: Social science & medicine. Volume 267(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: Depression -- Mental health -- Gender -- Gender inequality -- Cumulative disadvantage -- Comparative research -- Europe; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Medical anthropology -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine sociale -- Périodiques; Anthropologie médicale -- Périodiques; Santé publique -- Périodiques; Psychologie -- Périodiques; Médecine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113354
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-9536

Abstract

Abstract: Macro-sociological theories stress the contribution of gender inequality to this gender gap in depression, while cumulative advantage/disadvantage theory (CAD) reminds us that mental health inequalities accumulate over the life course. We explore the complementarity of both perspectives in a variety of European countries using data of the European Social Survey (2006 2012, 2014, N of countries = 29; N of men = 53, 680 and N of women = 63, 103) and using an 8-item version of the CES-D. Results confirm that the relevance of gender stratification for the mental health of women and men in Europe depends on age. The gender gap is nearly absent amongst adults in their twenties in the most gender equal countries, while an impressive gender gap is present amongst older adults in gender unequal countries, in accordance with CAD theory. These effects occur on top of the mental health consequences of taking up work and family roles at various life stages. The convergence of the results predicted by gender stratification and cumulative disadvantage theories strengthen the case for the link between gender, disadvantage and depression. Highlights: The gender gap in depression in Europe is more outspoken among older adults. Especially in countries with a high level of gender inequality, the gender gap increases in old age. Social role theory cannot explain cross-national variation in the age graded gender gap in depression. As the social composition of the population accounts only partially for this age graded gender gap.