Gender differences in self-reports of depression: The response bias hypothesis revisited
This study was designed to revisit the response bias hypothesis, which posits that gender differences in depression prevalence rates may reflect a tendency for men to underreport depressive symptoms. In this study, we examined aspects of gender role socialization (gender-related traits, socially desirable responding, beliefs about mental health and depression) that may contribute to a response bias in self-reports of depression. In addition, we investigated the impact of two contextual variables (i.e., cause of depression and level of intrusiveness of experimental follow-up) on self-reports of depressive symptoms. Results indicated that men, but not women, reported fewer depressive symptoms when consent forms indicated that a more involved follow-up might occur. Further, results indicated differential responding by men and women on measures of gender-related traits, mental health beliefs, and beliefs about depression and predictors of depressed mood. Together, our results support the assertion that, in specific contexts, a response bias explanation warrants further consideration in investigations of gender differences in rates of self-reported depression. © 2005 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.
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- Social Psychology
- 5205 Social and personality psychology
- 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
- 4405 Gender studies
- 1701 Psychology
- 1699 Other Studies in Human Society
- 1117 Public Health and Health Services
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Social Psychology
- 5205 Social and personality psychology
- 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
- 4405 Gender studies
- 1701 Psychology
- 1699 Other Studies in Human Society
- 1117 Public Health and Health Services