In the prevalence of depression, which group shows higher rates of diagnosis?

The choice of women as the group that shows higher rates of diagnosis for depression is supported by extensive research in psychology and epidemiology. Studies consistently indicate that women are diagnosed with depression at significantly higher rates than men. This difference has been attributed to a number of factors, including biological factors such as hormonal fluctuations and societal expectations that can contribute to greater stress and emotional challenges.

Moreover, women's higher rates of depression may also be influenced by factors such as greater likelihood to seek help and communicate their feelings compared to men, who might be less inclined to report emotional distress due to societal norms around masculinity.

In contrast, while children and teenagers can experience depression, the prevalence rates in these age groups do not exceed those of women. Men, although they can experience depressive disorders, typically have lower diagnosed rates of depression compared to women, often due to underreporting or differing expressions of depressive symptoms.