GENDER DIFFERENCES IN DEPRESSION - THE ROLE OF ANXIETY AND GENERALIZED NEGATIVE AFFECT

This study used the tripartite model of depression and anxiety to exam ine whether gender differences in depression may be accounted for in p art, by the overlap of depression with anxiety and negative affectivit y. The tripartite model distinguishes between pure forms of depression and anxiety, co-morbid depression and anxiety, and mixed anxiety-depr ession. One hundred-six college students completed questionnaires that measured depression, anxiety, and negative and positive affectivity. Results were moderately consistent with hypotheses. Specifically, the proportion of women versus men was significantly higher in the categor ies of co-morbid depression and anxiety and mixed anxiety-depression, but not in the categories of ''specific'' (i.e., ''pure'') depression or anxiety. It is argued that ''specific'' depression may be equally p revalent in men and women, but that other depression-related syndromes may be more common among women than men.