Life

Women and Depression

Why are women more likely than men to experience depression symptoms?

By Krisha McCoy, MS

Medically reviewed by Kevin O. Hwang, MD, MPH

Women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression — in fact, nearly 30 percent of women in the United States report depression symptoms, according to the National Institue of Mental Health (NIMH).
And while women and men can have similar depression symptoms, women are more likely to experience feelings of guilt and anxiety, sleep excessively, have an increased appetite, and gain weight.