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Depression in the United States and Japan: Gender, marital status, and SES patterns

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  • Inaba, Akihide
  • Thoits, Peggy A.
  • Ueno, Koji
  • Gove, Walter R.
  • Evenson, Ranae J.
  • Sloan, Melissa

Abstract

A number of investigators have claimed that higher depression scores and higher rates of depressive disorder are found worldwide in women, unmarried persons, and people of low socioeconomic status (SES). A closer look, however, indicates that patterns for Asian countries are less consistent than claimed. As a case in point, using comparable data from the National Family Research of Japan '98 survey (N=6985) and the National Survey of Families and Households in the US (N=8111), we examine the distributions of depressive symptoms by gender, marital status, and SES, with a short form of the CES-D Scale. Bivariate and multivariate analyses show that depressive symptoms are higher in women, unmarried persons, and those with lower family incomes in both countries, but there is no association between education and depression in Japan while symptoms are inversely related to education in the US. We argue that the lack of relationship between education and depression in Japan is not an artifact of measurement but a product of Japan's distinctive stratification processes relating to occupation. Cross-national variations around "general" patterns are important because they offer clues to more specific cultural and structural factors involved in the social etiology of mental disorder.

Suggested Citation

  • Inaba, Akihide & Thoits, Peggy A. & Ueno, Koji & Gove, Walter R. & Evenson, Ranae J. & Sloan, Melissa, 2005. "Depression in the United States and Japan: Gender, marital status, and SES patterns," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(11), pages 2280-2292, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:61:y:2005:i:11:p:2280-2292
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lei, Xiaoyan & Sun, Xiaoting & Strauss, John & Zhang, Peng & Zhao, Yaohui, 2014. "Depressive symptoms and SES among the mid-aged and elderly in China: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study national baseline," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 224-232.
    2. Chao Ma & Yiwei Li & Wenxin Jiang & Xing Zhang, 2024. "Pandemic exposure and long‐run psychological well‐being," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 62(1), pages 39-55, January.
    3. Miho Sato & Hiromi Kato & Makiko Noguchi & Hiroshi Ono & Kuniyuki Kobayashi, 2020. "Gender Differences in Depressive Symptoms and Work Environment Factors among Dairy Farmers in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-12, April.
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    5. Hee Jun Kim & EunMi Park & Carla L Storr & Katherine Tran & Hee-Soon Juon, 2015. "Depression among Asian-American Adults in the Community: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(6), pages 1-20, June.
    6. Lindsey E McKenzie & Ram N Polur & Cholrelia Wesley & Jessica D Allen & Robert E McKeown & Jian Zhang, 2013. "Social contacts and depression in middle and advanced adulthood: Findings from a US national survey, 2005–2008," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 59(7), pages 627-635, November.
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    10. Jianguo Shi & Yan Zhang & Feihu Liu & Yajuan Li & Junhui Wang & Jonathan Flint & Jingfang Gao & Youhui Li & Ming Tao & Kerang Zhang & Xumei Wang & Chengge Gao & Lijun Yang & Kan Li & Shenxun Shi & Gan, 2014. "Associations of Educational Attainment, Occupation, Social Class and Major Depressive Disorder among Han Chinese Women," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(1), pages 1-7, January.
    11. Shahe S. Kazarian, 2009. "Validation of the Armenian Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (Ces-D) Among Ethnic Armenians in Lebanon," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 55(5), pages 442-448, September.
    12. Bo Kyong Seo & In Hyee Hwang & Yi Sun & Juan Chen, 2022. "Homeownership, Depression, and Life Satisfaction in China: The Gender and Urban-Rural Disparities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-13, November.
    13. Stevens, Mark & Lieschke, Jacqueline & Cruwys, Tegan & Cárdenas, Diana & Platow, Michael J. & Reynolds, Katherine J., 2021. "Better together: How group-based physical activity protects against depression," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    14. Jang, Soong-Nang & Kawachi, Ichiro & Chang, Jiyeun & Boo, Kachung & Shin, Hyun-Gu & Lee, Hyejung & Cho, Sung-il, 2009. "Marital status, gender, and depression: Analysis of the baseline survey of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA)," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(11), pages 1608-1615, December.
    15. Dian-Jeng Li & Su-Ting Hsu & Frank Huang-Chih Chou & Li-Shiu Chou & Kuan-Ying Hsieh & Wei-Tsung Kao & Guei-Ging Lin & Wei-Jen Chen & Che-Hun Liao & Joh-Jong Huang, 2021. "Predictors for Depression, Sleep Disturbance, and Subjective Pain among Inpatients with Depressive Disorders during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-12, June.
    16. Sakurai, Keiko & Kawakami, Norito & Yamaoka, Kazue & Ishikawa, Hirono & Hashimoto, Hideki, 2010. "The impact of subjective and objective social status on psychological distress among men and women in Japan," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(11), pages 1832-1839, June.
    17. Nishimura, Junko, 2011. "Socioeconomic status and depression across Japan, Korea, and China: Exploring the impact of labor market structures," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(4), pages 604-614, August.
    18. Tiia Kekäläinen & Enni-Maria Hietavala & Matti Hakamäki & Sarianna Sipilä & Eija K. Laakkonen & Katja Kokko, 2021. "Personality Traits and Changes in Health Behaviors and Depressive Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Analysis from Pre-pandemic to Onset and End of the Initial Emergency Conditions ," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-14, July.
    19. Kroenke, Candyce, 2008. "Socioeconomic status and health: Youth development and neomaterialist and psychosocial mechanisms," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(1), pages 31-42, January.

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