Vivian Huang1, Shadi Beshai2, Stephanie Korol3, R Nicholas Carleton4. 1. Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Canada. Electronic address: vivian.huang@psych.ryerson.ca. 2. Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Canada. Electronic address: shadi.beshai@uregina.ca. 3. Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Canada. Electronic address: korol20s@uregina.ca. 4. Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Canada. Electronic address: Nick.Carleton@uregina.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Depression is a significant contributor of global disease burden. Previous studies have revealed cross-cultural and gender differences in the presentation of depressive symptoms. Using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), the present study examined differences in self-reported somatic, negative affective, and anhedonia symptoms of depression among Egyptian and Canadian university students. METHODS: A total of 338 university students completed study questionnaires from two major universities in Egypt (n=152) and Canada (n=186). Symptom domains were calculated based on the 14-item model of the CES-D. RESULTS: We found significant culture by gender interactions of total CES-D scores, wherein Egyptian females reported higher scores compared to their Canadian and Egyptian male counterparts. LIMITATIONS: Limitations include using analogue student samples and using only one self-report measure to examine different depressive symptom domains. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study provided support that males and females may differentially report depressive symptoms across cultures. Implications of these results are further discussed.
BACKGROUND:Depression is a significant contributor of global disease burden. Previous studies have revealed cross-cultural and gender differences in the presentation of depressive symptoms. Using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), the present study examined differences in self-reported somatic, negative affective, and anhedonia symptoms of depression among Egyptian and Canadian university students. METHODS: A total of 338 university students completed study questionnaires from two major universities in Egypt (n=152) and Canada (n=186). Symptom domains were calculated based on the 14-item model of the CES-D. RESULTS: We found significant culture by gender interactions of total CES-D scores, wherein Egyptian females reported higher scores compared to their Canadian and Egyptian male counterparts. LIMITATIONS: Limitations include using analogue student samples and using only one self-report measure to examine different depressive symptom domains. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study provided support that males and females may differentially report depressive symptoms across cultures. Implications of these results are further discussed.