Depression in adolescents: gender differences in Oman and Egypt

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Adolescent Health
• Cross-Cultural Psychology

Background:

• Depression is a significant mental health concern among adolescents globally.
• Understanding gender-specific prevalence and risk factors is crucial for targeted interventions.
• Cross-cultural variations in adolescent mental health require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare depression rates and associated factors between adolescent boys and girls in Oman and Egypt.
• To identify predictors of depression in secondary school students across different cultural contexts.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving two distinct samples of secondary school adolescents.
• Data collected from 552 adolescents in South Sharqiya, Oman, and 1577 in Alexandria, Egypt.
• Multivariate logistic regression models employed to analyze correlates of depression.

Main Results:

• Adolescent girls in Alexandria exhibited nearly double the rate of depressive symptoms compared to boys.
• No significant gender difference in depression rates was observed in the Omani sample.
• History of abuse during adolescence strongly predicted depression across most models.
• Poor parent-child relationships disproportionately affected girls in Alexandria and the combined sample.

Conclusions:

• Gender differences in adolescent depression prevalence and correlates are evident but vary geographically.
• History of abuse and adverse family relationships are critical risk factors for adolescent depression.
• Culturally sensitive approaches are necessary for addressing adolescent mental health disparities.