Why Women Are More Depressed than Men

A study reported that despite improvement in women’s lives, their happiness relative to men has declined since the ’70s, when the reverse was true. This held true across racial and socio-economic lines in several industrialized countries. Women’s happiness also declines with age. In contrast, men’ happiness has increased and increases with age.

Some attribute the decline in women’s happiness to the demands of work and motherhood, but research shows that working women and working mothers are happier. Work outside the home provides stimulation and another identity that protects against depression.

Another theory suggests that the women’s movement raised women’s expectations, and reality has failed to deliver. Today, many more women are college-educated and seek professions previously reserved for men, but then hit the glass ceiling. Moreover, old cultural beliefs that undermine women’s self-esteem are slow to change.

Women are more highly educated now and jobs may have opened up, but many women lack the instrumental qualities of self-efficacy, assertiveness, and autonomy that generate self-esteem and professional success. It’s not surprising that independent and assertive women are less depressed. Some women incorrectly believe that being assertive and autonomous will jeopardize their relationships, a priority for women. Not…