Unipolar depression in the Belgian population: trends and sex differences in an eight-wave sample

Although elaborate studies have considered gender differences in depression and a possible narrowing of this gender gap, one wonders if any longitudinal trends in Belgium exist to contribute to the discussion.

This study makes use of data from 1992 to 1999 of the panel study of Belgian Households (PSBH), a longitudinal database with yearly surveys that includes 3,546 longitudinal respondents (1,612 men and 1,933 women). Depression is measured according to a modified version of the Health and Daily Living Form (HDL) that contains 13 depression items.

Introducing latent variable growth curve modelling, a longitudinal representative sample of the Belgian population acknowledges the existence of a gender gap in depression and, regardless of age, sex, educational attainment, work loss or divorce, a general upward trend in depression. Another conclusion is the lack of evidence regarding a narrowing of this gender difference. Instead, we see a slightly larger growth rate in depression for the female respondents. The instrument used to measure depression not only captures gender differences adequately, but the scale itself is significantly reproducible over the entire 8-year period.

The overall conclusion of this study is that, regardless of socio-demographic differences, we can witness an upward trend of depression in Belgium between 1992 and 1999.