Women and Vulnerability to Depression: Some Personality and Clinical Factors

• Published in: The Spanish journal of psychology 2004-05, Vol.7 (1), p.29-39
• Main Authors: Carrillo, Jesús M., Rojo, Nieves, Staats, Arthur W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adjustment; Adolescent; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Aged; Behavioral psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical psychology; Clinical variables; Depression; Depression - diagnosis; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - psychology; Female; Gender differences; Gender differentiation; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Mental depression; Middle Aged; Mood disorders; Neo Personality Inventory; Personality; Personality Disorders - diagnosis; Personality Disorders - epidemiology; Personality Disorders - psychology; Personality Inventory; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; Schizotypal personality; Severity of Illness Index; Sex differences; Sex Factors; Social behaviour; Spanish language; Vulnerability; Women
• ISSN: 1138-7416; 1988-2904
• DOI: 10.1017/S1138741600004728

The purpose of this study is to explore the role of sex differences and personality in vulnerability to depression. Sex differences in personality and some clinical variables are described. We also assess the value of the variables that revealed significant sex differences as predictors of vulnerability to depression. In a group of adult participants (N = 112), 50% males and 50% females (mean age = 41.30; SD = 15.09; range 17- 67), we studied sex differences in the three-factor personality model, using the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, Form A (EPQ-A; Eysenck & Eysenck, 1975), and in the Five-Factor Personality Model, with the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI; Costa & McCrae, 1985). The following clinical scales were used: the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI; Beck, Rush, Shaw, & Emery, 1979), the Schizotypy Questionnaire (STQ; Claridge & Broks, 1984; Spanish version, Carrillo & Rojo, 1999), the THARL Scales (Dua, 1989, 1990; Spanish version, Dua & Carrillo, 1994) and the Adjustment Inventory (Bell, 1937; Spanish version, Cerdá, 1980). Subsequently, simple linear regression analysis, with BDI scores as criterion, were performed to estimate the value of the variables as predictors of vulnerability to depression. The results indicate that a series of personality variables cause women to be more vulnerable to depression than men and that these variables could be explained by a negative emotion main factor. Results are discussed within the framework of the psychological behaviorism theory of depression. En este trabajo se examinó el papel de las diferencias del sexo y de la personalidad en la vulnerabilidad a la depresión. Se describen las diferencias entre sexos en personalidad y en algunas variables clínicas para, posteriormente, analizar el papal de las variables que muestran diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los sexos, como predictoras de la vulnerabilidad a la depresión. Para cumplir con este objetivo, se exploraron extensamente esas diferencias en dos grandes modelos de la personalidad y en algunas escalas clínicas. Nuestros datos se obtuvieron de un grupo de adultos (N = 112), 50% hombres y 50% mujeres (media de edad = 41.30; SD = 15.09; rango 17- 67). Se estudiaron las diferencias entre mujeres y hombres respecto al modelo de 3 factores, utilizando el Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, Form A (EPQ; Eysenck & Eysenck, 1975; versión española de TEA, 1986), y el modelo de 5 factores (NEO Personality Inventory - NEO-PI; Costa & McCrae, 1