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Association of Categories and Subcategories of Depression to Gender
Chapter V: Discussion
The constructs Low Self-Worth, Suicidal, Social Impairment, Retardation/Agitation,
Masking/Stigma, Depressed Appearance, Perceived Disconnection, Aggression/Bullied, and
Quiet were significant when differentiated between boys and girls. In each significant construct,
girls had generated higher percentages of COAD than boys. These findings suggest that girls
have a more mature level of development as seen in the greater number of different constructs
girls provided, and their wider range of responses compared to boys. These findings may also
have a connection with gender and socialization differences (Gjerde et al., 1988). All these
constructs could reflect overt (e.g., Depressed Appearance, Quiet), covert (e.g., Perceived
Disconnection), or both overt and covert (e.g., Masking/Stigma) social implications. The higher
percentages of girls' versus boys' COAD in the significant category and subcategory findings
may be linked with differences in pubertal development. Angold et al. (1998) report that pubertal
development, as measured by Tanner stages, predict emergence of gender difference in
depression, as girls report increased rates of depressive disorders after Tanner Stage III. Further,
Allgood-Merten et al. (1990) report that more adolescent girls than boys are aware of inner
states, are more self-reflective, more publicly self-conscious, and exhibit greater social anxiety.
The importance of the underlying meaning of these significant constructs, however, are difficult
to determine based only on girls' higher percentages than boys' in these significant constructs.
Association of Categories and Subcategories of Depression to Gender in Grade 8
In grade 8, significantly higher percentage of girls contributed definitions more than
boys, in the category Low Self-Worth, and the subcategories Perceived Disconnection and
Aggression/Bullied. These findings suggest that there may be a social link that is more closely
associated with girls as shown in their percentages of COAD in these constructs. Low self-worth
may involve perceived inequality in relation to others and can overlap with perceived
disconnection from others. Aggression/Bullied aspects may extend the perceived disconnection
from others to an aversive relationship. Aversive behaviors may elicit negative reactions (Gjerde
et al., 1988), may propagate the cycle of perceived low self-worth and disconnection that may
lead to hostility in relationships.
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