Abstract
The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the potential differences between male and female adolescents in their performance on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) as a function of demographic variables and variables related to their living conditions. Three hundred and twelve adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 completed the BDI and a questionnaire dealing with the variables mentioned above. All adolescents were from the Western Quebec area and were registered at De l'Ile High School (Hull) or at L'Erablière High School (Gatineau). Differences in the BDI scores were observed between female and male adolescents, with females scoring significantly higher than males. However, none of the variables included in the questionnaire had a differential effect on the BDI scores of either male or female adolescents. The results are discussed in light of their relationship with some adjustment factors in adolescence.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albert, N., and Beck, A. T. (1975). Incidence of depression in early adolescence: A preliminary study.J. Youth Adolesc. 4: 301–307.
Baron, P., and Laplante, L. (1984). L'Inventaire de dépression de Beck: son utilisation auprés d'un échantillon d'adolescents francophones.Rev. modificat. comport. 14: 161–166.
Beck, A. T., Ward, C. H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J., and Erbaugh, J. (1981). An inventory for measuring depression.Arch. Gen. Psychiat. 4: 561–571.
Bourque, P., and Beaudette, D. (1982). Etude psychométrique du questionnaire de dépression de Beck auprès d'un échantillon d'étudiants universitaires francophones.Rev. canad. sci. comport. 14: 211–218.
Boyd, J. H., and Weissman, M. M. (1981). Epidemiology of affective disorders.Arch. Gen. Psychiat. 38: 1039–1046.
Bryson, S. E., and Pilon, D. J. (1984). Sex differences in depression and the method of administering the Beck Depression Inventory.J. Clin. Psychol. 40: 529–534.
Depue, R. A., and Monroe, S. M. (1978). Learned helplessness in the perspective of the depressive disorders: Conceptual and definitional issues.J. Abnorm. Psychol. 87: 3–20.
Geertsma, R. H. (1980). Family functioning. In Woody, R. H. (ed.),Encyclopedia of Clinical Assessment, Vol. 1, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco.
Gotlib, I. H. (1984). Depression and general psychopathology in university students.J. Abnorm. Psychol. 93: 19–30.
Greenberg, M. T., Siegel, J. M., and Leitch, C. J. (1983). The nature and importance of attachment relationships to parents and peers during adolescence.J. Youth Adolesc. 123: 373–386.
Hammen, C. L. (1980). Depression in college students: Beyond the Beck Depression Inventory.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 48: 126–128.
Hammen, C. L., and Padesky, C. A. (1977). Sex differences in the expression of depressive responses on the Beck Depression Inventory.J. Abnorm. Psychol. 86: 607–614.
Hess, R. D., and Camara, K. A. (1979). Post-divorce relationships as mediating factors in the consequences of divorce for children.J. Social Issues 35: 79–96.
Hodges, K. K., and Siegel, L. J. (1985). Depression in children and adolescents. In Beckham, E. E., and Leber, W. R. (eds.),Handbook of Depression: Treatment, Assessment and Research, The Dorsey Press, Homewood, Ill.
Hopkins, J. R. (1983).Adolescence: The Transitional Years, Academic Press, New York.
King, D. A., and Buchwald, A. M. (1982). Sex differences in subclinical depression: Administration of the Beck Depression Inventory in public and private disclosure situations.J. Personal. Soc. Psychol. 42: 963–969.
Krause, N. (1984). Employment outside the home and women's psychological well-being.Soc. Psychiat. 19: 41.
Pearce, J. (1977). Depressive disorder in childhood.J. Child Psychol. Psychiat. 18: 79–82.
Rossman, F. P. (1982). Psychotherapeutic approaches with depressive, acting-out adolescents: Interpretative tactics and their rationale. In Feinstein, S. C., Looney, J. G., Schwartzberg, A. Z., and Sorosky, A. D. (eds.),Adolescent Psychiatry, Vol. 9, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Ill.
Rosenfield, S. (1980). Sex differences in depression: Do women always have higher rates?J. Health Soc. Behav. 21: 33–42.
Rutter, M. (1985). The developmental psychopathology of depression: Issues and perspectives. In Rutter, M., Izard, C. E., and Read, P. B. (eds.),Depression in Young People: Developmental and Clinical Perspectives. Guilford Press, New York.
Siegel, L. J., and Griffin, N. J. (1984). Correlates of depressive symptoms in adolescents.J. Youth Adoles. 13: 475–487.
Teri, L. (1982). The use of the Beck Depression Inventory with adolescents:J. Abnorm. Child Psychol. 10: 277–284.
Weissman, M. M., and Klerman, G. L. (1977). Sex differences and the epidemiology of depression.Arch. Gen. Psychiat. 34: 98–111.
Williams, J. M. G. (1984).The Psychological Treatment of Depression: A Guide to the Theory and Practice of Cognitive-Behavior Therapy. The Free Press, New York.
Wing, J. K., and Bebbington, P. (1985). Epidemiology of depression. In Beckham, E. E., and Leber, W. R. (eds.),Handbook of Depression: Treatment, Assessment, and Research, The Dorsey Press, Homewood, Ill.
Wood Wetzel, J. (1984).Clinical Handbook of Depression, Gardner Press, New York.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received his Ph.D. from University of Ottawa. Major research interest is depression in adolescents.
Research interest is behavior in adolescents.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Baron, P., Perron, L.M. Sex differences in the Beck Depression inventory scores of adolescents. J Youth Adolescence 15, 165–171 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02141736
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02141736