Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2025

Author Spotlight: Understanding Adolescent Social Adversity Effects on Neurodevelopment in Mice
Published on: March 15, 2024
Changes in sex differences in mental health over time: the moderating effects of educational status and loneliness
Yeshambel T Nigatu1, Christine M Wickens1,2,3,4,5, Hayley A Hamilton1,2,3
1Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Toronto, Canada.
Background:
Limited evidence exists regarding how sex differences in mental health are changing over time, especially in the context of recent health and economic adversities.
Aims:
To examine the temporal shifts in mental health issues among males and females, and explore the influence of education and loneliness on these trends.
Methods:
Data were utilized from the 2020 to 2023 Monitor study, a repeated cross-sectional survey of adults 18 years and older in Ontario, Canada. The study employed a Qualtrics-based web panel survey (n = 5,317). Mental health was assessed using Kessler-6 questionnaire, and analyses were performed using Generalized Linear Model (GLM) with gamma distribution.
Results:
The results showed that there was a significant three-way interaction effect between sex, time and education with psychological distress (p = 0.014), suggesting that psychological distress increased between 2020 and 2023 among males who had less than college education. However, it remained stable among males with college/university degrees and females overall. Interaction between sex and feeling lonely on psychological distress was also evident (p = 0.004).
Conclusions:
Mental health issues remained a significant public health challenge among adults, especially psychological distress increasing among males with less than a college education. This underscores the importance of targeted interventions addressing males' mental health.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
Relationship Formation
Depressive Disorders: Etiology
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
Cross-Sectional Research
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture

