Depression in Young Women 1

DEPRESSION IN YOUNG WOMEN
Depression In Young Women

Term Paper
Jenna Marie Brown
6756720
HSF 1050 - Human Services 1
Debashis Dutta
November 24th 2014
Depression can be a substantively debilitating mental health condition that

impedes ones functioning and self-esteem. For people who live with depression, the
burdens associated with the symptoms can long term and very drastic effects. Women
in particular suffer through more severe effects of depression because of the
inappropriate societal expectations they face. In this regard, current therapeutic
approaches to treating depression women are generally inadequate.
The purpose of this paper will be to explore Depression in adolescence and

young women also the strengths that follow positive psychologists and other forms of
therapy. First, the paper will define what depression is and everything that depression
brings along. Second, the paper will address the factors and contributors that
associated with depression. Third the paper will discuss what young women go through
dealing with depression. Finally, the paper will more assertively explore and discuss art
and creativity as tools that are more in line with womens healing, specifically poetry
therapy and positive psychology.
Literature Review
What is Depression
Depression is often defined as a continuum full of effective disturbances that
incorporate; Dysphoric Mood, a syndrome or an array of symptoms of Psychological
Distress, and Psychiatric Disorders such as Major Depressive Disorder/Episode known
as MDD/MDE. Fatigue, loss of interest, somatic problems, irritability, suicidal thoughts,
SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and inability to make proper decisions are all
symptoms of MDD/E (Galambos et al., 2004). Depression is often unrecognized or

treated by a professional (Cheung et al., 2007). 15% to 20% of adults show some kind
of depressive symptoms, 30% will suffer from depression at least once in there lifetime.
Depression is growing faster in today's society and generation then ever, and it shows
signs of nausea, disappointment, cases of anxiety and fatigue (Parsa et al.,
2013). Those who have had Minor Depression have a higher risk of getting Major
Depression, Minor depression includes the symptoms of Major, not as severe, SAD is
one of the most common symptoms of depression, and is more into Major then Minor.
The average time for one person to have depression is a little over five months
(Wilkinson et al., 2013). Depression is known as a condition of the brain and the
nervous system, Disturbed sleeping patterns, loss of pleasure, loss of appetite, or gain
of an appetite, weight change up to five percent, energy decrease, loss of concentration
and a hard time focusing are just a few of the many symptoms of Major and Minor
depression. Sadness, worthlessness, pessimism and feelings of hopelessness are
major parts of depression feelings. Depression effects the women's choice of wanting
children, sense of self, feelings about body image and women become more vulnerable
before and during there menstrual cycle (Wes Burgess, Depression Answer Book,
2009).
There is a certain way depression is diagnosed, through the DSM-IV-TR

(Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). The criteria for MDD/E is as
followed; Depressed mood or loss of interest and pleasure in daily activities for more
than two weeks. Mood change from the original baseline. Impaired functions in any of;
Social, Occupational, and Educational. At least five of these nine symptoms nearly
every day;
1. Depressed mood, as indicated by either subjective report or observation made by
others.
2. Diminished interest or pleasure in daily activities, most of each day.
3. Significant Weight Change (5%) or change in appetite.
4. Change in Sleep: Insomnia or Hypersomnia.
5. Change in Activity: Psychomotor agitation or retardation.
6. Fatigue/Loss of Energy.
7. Guilt/worthlessness: Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt.
8. Concentration: Decreased ability to think or concentrate.
9. Suicidality: Thoughts of death or suicide, or has thought of a suicide plan.
(DSM-IV-TR, American Psychiatric Association, 2000)
Severity of depression differentiates depending on the domain, There are three

types of severity; Mild, Moderate and Severe. There are six functional domains that fit
into depression and the impairments of each; Moderately Impaired (Column A) and
Severely Impaired (Column B). Each of the Domains are listed below with the
impairments that come with depression.
1. Family Relationships; Moderately Impaired; Usually quiet, negative and oppositional.

Severely Impaired; Withdrawn, wont talk to anyone, brusque, angry and aggressive to
others and to self.
2. School and Academics/Work; Moderately Impaired; Grades and work performance

deteriorating, Missing class or work, decreased effort in everything, moderate academic
or work stress. Severely Impaired; Failing performance, missing school and work,
doesn't care about work or school, argumentative, high academic or work stress daily.
3. Peer Relationships; Moderately Impaired; Decreased socializing of extracurricular
activities, more time spent on the computer. Severely Impaired; Isolated, no longer
going to extracurricular activities, excessive amounts of computer time.
4. Stress Level, Anxiety; Moderately Impaired; Minimizes/denies issues, projects
onto/blames others. Severely Impaired; Withholds feelings, wont talk about anything or
to anyone.
5. Suicidal Ideation; Moderately Impaired; Vague/occasional thought of suicide.
Severely Impaired; Frequently considers suicide, has a plan, or prior attempt.
6. Other Self Harm; Moderately Impaired; Occasional thought but has made no
attempts. Severely Impaired; Cutting, and any other self injury.
For mild depression, there has to be >one from column A, and one to two from
column B, or five to six sx, mild in severity and functional impairment. Moderate
Depression is >one from column A, plus two to three from column B, or seven to
eight sx, moderate functional impairment. For severe depression to be present, there
has to be all three from column A plus >three from column B, or fewer sx, with any;
severe functional impairment, recent suicide attempts, has a suicide plan, or clear intent
to do so, and psychotic sx. (DSM-IV-TR, American Psychiatric Association, 2000)
Depression is very complex, and has many types under it. The most common
types of Depression are; Major and Minor which are very similar, they both follow the
DSM-IV-TR, The only difference between these two is that Minor Depression is less
severe than Major Depression. Another type of depression is Dysthymia, a less mild
form of Depression, usually lasts four or more years if not treated by a professional.
Postpartum, which happens to women after the birth of there child, postpartum stops
the mother from taking care of her child the right way, it has many of the symptoms of
Major Depression. PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) often comes one week
before the start and lasts until the end of the menstrual cycle, has minor symptoms of
depression during the cycle. Finally, SAD is often only in the fall winter seasons, and
disappears during the spring and summer seasons, SAD is due to lack of sunlight and is
also known as the blues (Med-line Plus, Depression, 2012).
Anyone can have depression, it does not stick to just one race or gender. Women
are more likely to get depression, they are also more likely to show symptoms of
depression. Depression in women is often very complicated and confusing
(Wes Burgess, Depression Answer Book, 2009). Women have been found to have
depression throughout adolescence and adulthood (Reinherz et al., 1999), they are also
more likely to have suicidality, but not complete it. (Cheung et al., 2007). Females often
show depression more than males, and depression shows more in females if there is a
history of depression in the family, body weight is another thing that females with
depression worry about more than men (Galambos et al., 2004). Females have a high
prevalence of having depression and somatic symptoms, such as eating disorders,
headaches, worrying about body image and insomnia and fatigue. Women are strongly
related to somatic symptoms, and women experience more somatic than men do.
Somatic symptoms of atypical depression have been found to predict depression in
young women. Somatic symptoms and depression have increased over the years in
young women, and females who have reported somatic depression was over double of
what males reported; 6.9% female, 3.1% male (Silverstein et al., 2013)
Child hood depression is one of the biggest and strongest predictors of early
adulthood suicide (Reinherz et al., 1999). Suicidality is more common in female
adolescence and young adults, in a survey done by Cheung and Dewa, 48% of suicidal
adults did not use any mental health service at all, and 42% of depressed adults had not
used any mental health service (Cheung et al., 2007). Girls are more likely to report
symptoms and stressful events then males are. Females with depression are more
likely to become smokers (Galambos et al., 2004), and women who currently smoke
have higher depressive symptoms (Fang et al., 2011). One in six girls have an
experience of Major Depressive Disorder, depression is reported in adolescence and
has a lifetime rate of 10% to 18.5%. During adolescent years, depression is on a high
risk for developing. White adolescence have reported more worthlessness
and suicidality then any other race, suicidal attempts and ideation is more likely in white
adolescence, And minority females are at a big risk for Minor Depression during
adolescence (Wilkinson et al., 2013). In a study about somatic depression, 28.5%
reported having headaches, compared to 18.9 with pure depression, 17.3% reported
having trouble breathing, to the 11.6% of pure depression, 55.5% of somatic depression
respondents reported having body image concerns, compared to 40.5% of pure
depression, 67.2% of respondents with somatic depression were female (Silverstein et

al., 2013).
Causes or Factors Contributing to Depression

Understanding the risks and impairments of depression is really important in
understanding depression in general, there are many causes as a child that contribute
to depression in later adult years. Family constellation, poor academic achievement and
parental death can lead anyone into depression, or make the depressive symptoms
more severe. If a child has depression, it will usually lead intro adulthood, along with
childhood behavior and emotional characteristics that can lead into depression. Adults
are more likely to have depression if as a child they were anxious or dependent or if
they found themselves unpopular. Early illness and injuries can be risks for women
getting depression. Low socioeconomic status increases the risk of development of
depression. The size of a women's family as a child, the age of her parents, martial
status, remarriage between parents, loss of a parent, maternal loss, family conflict, and
children's perception of there role in the family all contribute to depression later in life.
Females that have had grade retention, truancy, greater use of school services, have
had depression later in life. Conflict as a teen, lack of support from parents and family,
neglect, poor parenting all can lead up to depression in early adulthood. Interactions
with family have a greater impact on the treatment of depression other than structural
factors. Females that have depression in early adulthood, may have had a death of a
close loved one or a death of a parent at a young age. Children that have had poor
academic achievement, were more likely to have depression in early adulthood. Women
that have had poor self image and parental rejection during adolescence can lead to
depression. As an adult, problems at work, stressful life events and traumas, early
pregnancy, smoking and substance abuse are major factors that can lead to depression
or can come after depression. Adults with depression will show signs of externalizing
behavior problems, inhibited behavior and lower self esteem when they were a child
(Reinherz et al., 1999).
Effects of Depression
The purpose of the transition from adolescence to adulthood is to strengthen and
expand the idea of concept, forming stable intimate relationships, making the right and
wrong career choices, and achieving the independence from parents, by having
depression, this cannot be achieved. Poor overall functioning, emotional behavior
problems, self mastery and low self esteem are all linked to the effects of depression in
women. Major depression and social dysfunction are linked with problems with friends,
family, spouses and educational and occupational problems. Later born children have a
greater risk of anxiety, lower self concept and major and minor depression. Those of
who go into adulthood with depression, are more likely to have suicidality. Those with
depression are more likely to have other comorbid psychiatric disorders
or symptomatology. Females that are in remission often still continue to show
impairment in psycho social functioning. Having depression during transition can lead
into poor functioning and will likely have other problems such as; interpersonal
problems, and an increased need for social support from others. Depression during
transition can lead into a greater need for support in general. Not being able to form
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close personal relationships have been associated with depression. Being dissatisfied
with work can lead into a deeper depression and have lower life satisfaction. Being
vulnerable presents a risk for continued impairment and future disorder (Reinherz et al.,
1999). Most young adults did not get any help from any professional or mental health
service. Females are more likely to use help from service workers or counselors, and
help from non specialty mental health providers. Women with suicidality are more likely
to use services from a GP(General Practitioner) and are also more likely to use active
treatments such as medication (Cheung et al., 2007). Depression is associated with
cardiovascular disease and low LDL-C levels. Lower insoluble fiber is known with
depressive symptoms, and that depression contributes to the onset of coronary artery
disease. Depression can cause lower cholesterol, and is associated with poorer life
styles such as greater smoking and poor diet. Women with depression had lower LDL-C
levels and were consuming less fiber than what they should (Fang et al., 2012).
Depression during adolescence can lead up to unsecured attachments in early
adulthood. The most important risk factors in depression in girls are body dissatisfaction
and low self esteem, physical activities help in the prevention and treatment, through
the improvement of depression and self esteem. The risks of anxiety, eating and
conduct disorders, problems in interpersonal relationships and academic failure all
heighten during depression. Dysphoric interpersonal concerns, interpersonal stressful
life events, heavier smoking, earlier pubertal timings, ruminative coping styles, problems
with relationships with family and peers and negative body images are all major effects
of depression (Galambos et al., 2004).
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Service Approach
There are many service approaches that help women with depression, two of the
main ones that seem to be better than others are; Positive Psychology and Art Therapy.
Both connect with each other, that makes one really good therapy. Regular therapy can
be boring and may not work for the client, sometimes they cannot just talk about what
is wrong or what is effecting them, so that is where art therapy comes in, by doing art, it
releases feelings that cannot be spoken. Traditional discussions do not always work, for
instance poetry can be a way to release the feelings that the client might not of been
able to speak so freely. Feelings that stem from depression, stress or deprivation might
not be expressed as they would if the client painted or made something. (Parsa et al.,
2013). A picture speaks 1000 words. Art therapy is important because of the things it
achieves, it helps people over come there fears and helps them create a sense of safety
and a sense of there self.
Positive Psychology is the study of positive character, positive emotions and the
positive institutions and communities that promote development. Positive psychology is
a strong area for modernizing art therapy and by the fact that it identifies resilience and
positive social supports. Positive emotions are often defined as; interest, contentment,
hope, joy and love; to flourishing and well being. The need to understand and help
others that in a way satisfies themselves, psychological mindedness, and to search for
greater self understanding and curiosity are all a part of positive motivations and
influences.The whole point of positive emotions is to broaden perceptions; which makes
humans more accepting of others, more receptive to each other, and to promote the
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discovery of creative ideas, novel and actions. Positive emotions help build
psychological and physical resources in addition to social connections, inspiring play
and exploration. Positive emotions make people more resilient to setbacks; emotional
and physiological, and helps people able to bounce back from stressful events and
hardship. They also have an undoing effect; they help lessen the long term effects of
negative experiences and build up resources that promote positivity, and create an
upward spiral toward better well being. Positive psychology is identified with humanist
psychology which brings that human beings can achieve their full potential and all of
their goals with the right motivation. There are three main parts that positive psychology
moves with: First is Human Flourishing; which is a state that communities and
individuals function with higher levels of psychological, social and emotional well being.
Second, Subjective Well Being; positive and negative states are evaluated; with overall
satisfaction. Finally, Psychological well being; is personal growth, autonomy, positive
relationships with others, and the need for purpose in life. Positive therapy helps out in
achieving these three main parts. Meaning in life is the main human need, the ability to
create stability, and coherence to change their life on their own. The significance of
meaning is important not only because of the influence it has on one persons life, but
the effect it has on the way someone perceives and deals with trauma and hardship.
Meaningful relationships, a greater sense of personal strength, an increased sense of
purpose in life, changed priorities, success in marriage, income, friendship, health and
work performance are what can happen when one goes through positive psychology
and finds meaning in there life (Wilkinson et al., 2013)
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Art therapy helps experience a greater well being through creative ways that
illuminate the purpose and meaning of someones life, and increase positivity and
engagement. Art therapy expresses and communicates meaning, it not only promotes
meaning but promotes benefit finding. Art therapy is all about identifying and capitalizing
the clients strengths and goals. By making art, it improves moods, expressing positive
feelings rather than how you feel will be more effective and lead to a better way in
repairing mood. Loss of self consciousness, experience of timelessness and complete
absorption of the task at hand make up Flow, flow is at its greatest when clients
achieve there highest goal and talents. Mastering challenges with flow will achieve
positive emotions that help build resilience and emotional capital for later in life. Art
therapy promotes flow which in return will make psychological growth, tasks that create
balance between skills and challenge, the timing of interventions and use of
environmental elements like music and lighting all promote the use of flow (Wilkinson et
al., 2013). Art therapy uses many forms of art, such as music, painting, poetry,
sculpting, story telling, photography and the theater for psychoanalytic treatment and
personal growth. The most common forms of art therapy is painting and music, but any
art variable that can abridge inner and outer feelings for treatment is used. Each client is
different and each art variable can help them in a different way and each piece of art
can be positive toward there emotional healing. Learning how to use imagination and
relaxing techniques associate with the meaning and joy of life. By learning imagination,
the client can learn to be initiative and creative which will help them break the patterns
in there mind and help focus on more positive than negative. Poetry helps people
express feelings that they cannot say on their own naturally, by using poetry as a
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version of therapy it can help with the clients self esteem, self exploration and
declaration and also help them express emotion on another level, rather than them just
saying there sad, to show they are sad helps more and will help to understand the
problem better. Group therapy with poetry can raise self esteem, as well as improving
self understanding, expressing their feelings better, and self discovery and explanatory,
poetry effectively helps with reducing the symptoms of depression. It is essential to use
literature in therapy because of the positive elements that are involved such as:
Discharging of tension and internal conflict, turning agitation into words, and symbolic
expressions of desires; ambiguous but broadens perspectives and thoughts (Parsa et
al., 2013). Art therapy is essential in general because of the elements that come with it,
by being able to show how you feel instead of trying to find the right words to tell a
therapist is more effective for the healing, and also more effective for the professional to
help the client in a better way. There are many good forms of therapy, but there are also
some really bad parts. Not every client can or will want to talk about what is bothering
them, by using art therapy it gives the client a chance to express how they
feel, without really saying it, art therapy can be an amazing thing is used right, it can
lead to happier moods and be just fun in general. Art therapy will lessen the depressive
symptoms. Words release feelings, and feelings tell a story, which the professional then
looks at and decides how to treat and work with the client.
Art therapy is essential in today's society because everywhere you look there is
some sort of artistic thing, or someone needs counseling. By making art or expressing
literature, it will help the client express what they cannot express themselves, also
poetry therapy can act as an ofrice, to go against the emotional (Parsa et al., 2013)
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Conclusion
In today's generation depression is everywhere, Women in particular suffer
through more severe effects of depression because of the inappropriate societal
expectations they face. There are many types of depression mild and severe, there is
also a lot of impairments that follow and that affect the ability to do daily things.
Depression can be caused by many things and has many symptoms along with it. There
is not just one cause to depression, what may affect one person may not affect another.
Therapy is important in the process of treatment, not every version works or

helps everyone, specific parts may only work on specific cases. Art therapy is a really
effective version in understanding and achieving the goals that the client may make. Art
therapy helps with the words that the client may not be able to speak naturally, and
gives them an easier way of telling how they feel. Instead of speaking how they feel,
show it.
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References
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of

Mental Disorders: DSM-IV-TR.
Beevers, G. C., Oneil, K., Stice, E., Rhode, P. (2009). Major and Minor Depression
in Female Adolescent: Onset, Course, Symptom Presentation, and Demographic
Associations.
Giaconia, R., Hauf, C. M. A., Silverman, B. A., Reinherz, Z. H., Wasserman, S. M.
(1999). Major Depression in the Transition to Adulthood: Risks and
Impairments, Journal of Abnormal Psychology ,Vol. 108, No. 3, pp. 500-510.
Cheung, H. A., Dewa, S. C. (2007). Mental Health Service Use Among Adolescents
and Young Adults With Major Depressive Disorder and Suicidality, La Revue
Canadienne De Psychiatrie, Vol. 52, No. 4.
Harati, S., Parsa, N. A. (2013). Art Therapy (Poetry Therapy) Can Reduce the
Effects of Depression, International Journal of Academic Research, Vol 5, No
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Dorgan, F. J., Egleston, L. B., Fang, Y. C., Gabriel, P. K., Kwiterovich, O. P.,
Longacre, L. M., Snetselaar, G. L., Stevens, J. V. (2012). Depressive
Symptoms and Serum Lipid Levels in Young Women.
Depression: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2014.
Barker, T. E., Galambos, L. N. (2004). Gender Differences in and Risk Factors for
Depression in Adolescence: A 4-year Longitudinal Study.
Chilton, G., Wilkinson, A. R. (2013). Positive Art Therapy: Linking Positive
Psychology to Art Therapy Theory, Practice, and Research. Journal of the
American Art Therapy Association, Vol 30, No 1, pp. 4-11.
Angst, J., Ajdacic-Gross, V., Edwards, T., Gamma, A., Silverstein, B. (2013). The Role
Played by Depression Associated With Somatic Symptomatology in
Accounting
for the Gender Difference in the Prevalence of Depression.

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