Depresión y Género: Factores Psicosociales de Riesgo

Abstract

The prevalence of depression is increasing and continues to be higher among women than men. Although depression is a multi-factorial disease, its etiology cannot be dissociated from the social context. In the last three decades women have been incorporated in large numbers into the labor market and gender identities and roles have been redefined. However, gender inequality has not disappeared in most social contexts. Unfavorable conditions of globalization affect more women than men. Because of this, a gender perspective may contribute to explain the differential distribution of psychopathologies by sex. It also can help to reconstruct gender roles and identities, both male and female, in order to achieve healthier ones and to search for new ways to face or mitigate these specific problems of our time.