Sex-ratio and gender differences in depression in an unselected adult population

Self-administered the Beck Depression Inventory and a demographic questionnaire anonymously to 275 adults, 105 males and 170 females, in an extension of the self-report technique previously used with university students. Neither sex-ratio nor gender differences in depression were found, similar to the pattern found among university students. No demographic variable was correlated significantly with depression. The present findings are considered in terms of methodological differences between studies. It is concluded that the lack of sex-ratio and gender differences is explained best by the fact that the present methodology eliminated face-to-face interviews, which may expose males to greater negative repercussions for exhibiting depressed behavior.