Graduate Program

Clinical Psychology

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

2005

Thesis Director

Daneen Deptula

Thesis Committee Member

Anu Sharma

Thesis Committee Member

Linda Leal

Abstract

The current study examined the association between gender and depression in childhood and adolescence with respect to social-cognitive, behavioral, and gender-role factors. The participants for this study were 231 children and adolescents ranging in age from 8 to 17 years old. Participants completed a demographic survey and measures assessing depression, self-esteem, self and peer ratings of social standing, cognitive errors in social standing, peer rejected and aggressive behaviors, femininity, and masculinity. Results indicated that there were gender differences in depression scores, with females reporting higher levels of depression than males. Significant negative correlations were found between depression and the factors of self-esteem, peer ratings of social standing, and self ratings of social standing; a significant positive correlation was found between depression and peer rejection and underestimation of social standing. Contrary to predictions, overt aggression, relational aggression, femininity and masculinity were not significantly correlated with childhood and adolescent depression. Results of the present study also revealed that gender's role in depression is partially mediated by self-esteem, peer rejection, overt aggression, and femininity. The results of stepwise multiple regressions also suggested that self-esteem and self ratings of social standing were the only factors that predicted depression for males, with self-esteem being the only predictor for females.

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