Gender and Mental Health: Are There Differences?

Abstract

Mental health is clearly an integral part of health. There is no health without mental health. It is the foundation of well-being and effective functioning for an individual and for a community. Mental health and mental illnesses are determined by the interaction of multiple social, psychological and biological factors. The current study focuses on the gender differences in mental health among youth in Kerala. The participants consisted of 211 undergraduate students between 18 and 24 years. The data were collected using the Demographic proforma and the Mental Health Inventory (MHI). Results showed that youth in Kerala had average mental health. There were no significant associations between demographic characteristics and mental health. Independent sample t test revealed no significant gender difference in overall mental health but gender difference was observed in General positive affect. General positive affect was greater among males than in females. Findings of the current study conclude that male and female youth of Kerala do not differ in terms of their mental health. Limitations, strengths, and implications of the findings are discussed in detail.