Gender Differences in Problem Drinking and Depression: Different “Vulnerabilities?”

• Published in: American journal of community psychology 1999-02, Vol.27 (1), p.25-54
• Main Authors: Skaff, Marilyn McKean, Finney, John W., Moos, Rudolf H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Alcohol Abuse; Alcoholism; Alcoholism - complications; Alcoholism - diagnosis; Alcoholism - rehabilitation; Biological and medical sciences; Depression; Depression (Psychology); Depressive Disorder - complications; Depressive Disorder - psychology; Drinking Behavior; Female; Females; Follow-Up Studies; gender; Gender differences; Humans; Life Change Events; Male; Males; Medical sciences; Mental depression; Problem drinking; Psychological Stress; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Relationship; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Sex Differences; Sex Factors; Sexes; social resources; Social Support; Stress; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0091-0562; 1573-2770
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1022813727823

This study examines the relationship between stressors and resources and the functioning of a sample of 515 men and women who had a drinking problem. At a one‐year follow‐up, both women and men had improved on three functioning measures: alcohol consumption, days intoxicated, and depression. There were no gender differences at Time 2 on alcohol consumption, but men had more days intoxicated and women had more symptoms of depression. The impact of stressors and resources varied by life domain, functioning criterion, and gender. Although the predictors varied, the amount of variance in depression accounted for was the same for women and men. The most striking gender difference was the stronger impact of friendships for women on all aspects of functioning. This study provides support for reconsideration of the stress vulnerability of women and men.