GENDER DIFFERENCES IN DEPRESSION ACCORDING TO ROLES AND WORK-HOME INTERACTION FACTORS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY BY GENDER

Background: This study examines the prevalence and impact of depression. Factors like genetics, demographics, lifestyle, and environment contribute to depression. Gender differences are prominent, with women having a higher risk. Gender roles, influenced by life experiences, play a role in mental health, like the relationship between caregiving roles and depression risk. Work-home interaction is explored, both as a source of stress and a potential positive spillover. The study aims to analyze gender differences in depression, considering roles, sociodemographics, and work-home interaction.

Methods: We conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Participants were recruited from primary health care centres in Spain. Primary outcome was depression symptomatology using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Secondary outcomes included sociodemographic data, and work-home interaction measured by the Survey Work-Home Interaction - Nijmegen (SWING). Descriptive analysis provided means, standard deviations, frequencies, and percentages. Bivariate analysis utilized Student's t-test and Chi-square tests. Multivariate analysis employed linear regression with significant variables from bivariate analysis and plausible clinical implications.

Results: The study included 325 participants, 57% women and 43% men, with an average age of 51.57 years. Gender differences were found in employment type, work hours, household tasks, positive family-work interaction, and depression symptomatology. In men, being single, spending more time at work, and facing higher negative work-family interaction were linked to higher depression scores. For women, low income and increased work-family interaction predicted higher depression scale scores.

Conclusion: This study underscores the intricate interplay between gender, depression, and work-home interaction, emphasizing the importance of considering gender-specific stressors in mental health interventions.

Trial registration: This study was registered with the ISRCTN Registry on 10/05/2022 (ISRCTN12820058) https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN12820058

Keywords

Sex roles; work-home interaction; depression; gender differences