Gender difference on depressive symptoms among Chinese children and adolescents

Abstract

To explore the epidemiological characteristics and gender difference of depressive symptoms among Chinese children and adolescents. Based on the cluster sampling method, 50 boys and 50 girls from each 9.0-18.9 year-olds in both urban and rural areas, were recruited from each research center. Children's Depression Inventory(CDI)was administered to all the participating students from grade 4 to 12 while physical examination indices including pubic hair were provided to both boys and girls. Development of breast in girls and genital development in boys were also measured. The overall prevalence on depressive symptoms was 14.81% for the Chinese adolescents. Boys reported more depressive symptoms (15.35%) than that of girls (14.43%). Prevalence related to depressive symptoms among children and adolescents from rural areas (16.41%)was higher than that of the urban areas(13.23%). Prevalence of depression was higher in boys than in girls in both 10-year-old and 11-year-old groups (χ(2) = 11.625, P < 0.005;χ(2) = 5.807, P < 0.005). In the 17 year-old group, prevalence of depression (21.5%)was seen higher in girls than in boys (17.26%) (χ (2) = 6.192, P < 0.005). Only in the Tanner stage II , the gender difference of depression showed statistically significant (χ(2) = 6.593, P < 0.005), with boys as 18.4% and girls as 15.8% . The gender differences of depression appeared in both special age groups and developmental stages in Chinese children that called for further longitudinal study to understand the nature of these findings.