Studies reveal a disturbing gap between girls and boys

Depression has become one of the most common mental health disorders in the ranks of adolescents, but recent studies reveal that girls suffer more and at an escalating pace compared to boys.

According to research published in 2017, 36% of girls between 12 and 17 years have shown symptoms of depression compared to 14% of boys. In 2023, an American study reported that more than half of high school students expressed a constant feeling of “sadness or despair”, compared to only a third of the boys.

Academic and social pressures, early puberty, the negative impact of social media, and exposure to harassment or insecure environments, are all factors that increase the risk of depression in girls. Also, the way they deal with emotional stimuli makes them more vulnerable to anxiety and closure, unlike boys who may hide their symptoms behind anger.

Experts stress the importance of the role of parents in emotional support, listening without provisions, enhancing self -confidence, limiting the use of communication, in addition to consulting specialists when needed. They confirm that these steps may help girls to overcome adolescence in more psychological security.