Gender Differences, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Resilience, Psychological, Self Stigma, Social Stigma
Conditions
Brief summary
Depression is a common and serious mental health condition that affects mood, thoughts, behavior, and overall quality of life. It arises from a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. While depression is more frequently diagnosed in women, research suggests that men may experience and express depressive symptoms differently. Men are more likely to display symptoms such as irritability, anger, impulsivity, or increased alcohol use, and they may be less likely to seek professional psychological support due to social expectations and fear of stigma. Stigma-both self-stigma (internalized negative beliefs about having a mental illness) and perceived social stigma (concerns about being judged by others)-can negatively influence individuals' willingness to seek help and adhere to treatment. In addition, psychological resilience, defined as the ability to cope effectively with stress and adversity, may play an important role in how individuals experience depressive symptoms and respond to treatment. This study aims to compare women and men diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder in terms of depression severity, gender-sensitive depressive symptoms, self-stigma, perceived social stigma, and levels of psychological resilience. It will also examine the relationships among these factors to better understand how gender-related differences influence the experience and management of depression. Findings from this study may contribute to improved recognition of gender-specific features of depression, reduction of stigma, and the development of more individualized and effective mental health interventions for both women and men.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Eskisehir Osmangazi University
Study design
Observational model
CASE_ONLY
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Male and female patients aged 18 to 65 years * Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder according to DSM-5 at the time of study participation * Provision of voluntary informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* Intellectual disability * Severe neurological disorders * Comorbid psychiatric diagnoses * Depressive disorder secondary to an organic medical condition * Depressive disorder secondary to substance use
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Depression Severity | Baseline (single assessment) | Depression severity will be assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The Beck Depression Inventory is a 4-point Likert-type scale consisting of 21 items. Each item is rated on a scale of 0 to 3, and the total possible score ranges from 0 to 63. Higher scores indicate a greater severity of depressive symptoms. |
| Gender Differences in Gender-Sensitive Depressive Symptoms | Baseline (single assessment) | Gender-sensitive depressive symptom severity will be assessed using the Gender-Sensitive Depression Scale, a 24-item, four-point Likert-type instrument. Each item is rated on a four-point scale with response options ranging from 0 to 3: "Never or rarely," "Sometimes," "Often," and "Always." The scale comprises the subdimensions of Dysphoria-Irritability, Impulsivity-Shame, and Alcohol Use. Higher scores indicate greater severity of depressive symptoms. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Stigma in Depression | Baseline (single assessment) | Self-stigma will be assessed using the Self-Stigma of Depression Scale, a 15-item, five-point Likert-type instrument that measures individuals' self-stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors. One of the 16 items in the original scale was removed during the Turkish validity and reliability study to improve cultural and psychometric appropriateness; therefore, the 15-item version will be used. Each item is rated on a five-point scale ranging from "Strongly disagree" to "Strongly agree," with response options scored from 1 to 5. The total score ranges from 15 to 75, with higher scores indicating greater levels of self-stigma. |
| Perceived Social Stigma Related to Seeking Psychological Help | Baseline (single assessment) | Perceived social stigma will be assessed using the Stigma Scale for Receiving Professional Psychological Help. The scale consists of five items. Each item is rated on a four-point scale ranging from "Strongly disagree" to "Strongly agree." The total score ranges from 1 to 20. Higher scores indicate a higher level of perceived social stigma associated with seeking psychological help. |
| Psychological Resilience | Baseline (single assessment) | Psychological resilience will be assessed using the Resilience Scale for Adults, a 32-item, five-point Likert-type instrument. Each item is rated on a five-point scale ranging from "Strongly disagree" to "Strongly agree," with response options scored from 1 to 5. The total score ranges from 32 to 160. The scale does not have a cutoff score, and interpretation of the total score is left to the discretion of the researcher. When higher scores are intended to indicate greater psychological resilience, responses are scored from left to right as 1-2-3-4-5. The scale also includes reverse-scored items. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Contacts
CONTACTİrem OZKAYNAK DAGLİ, Research assistant, M.D.
CONTACTHARUN O SONKURT, Asst. Prof.
Outcome results
None listed