Why Do Women Tend to Have Mental Breakdowns Earlier Than Men?
Why is it that women tend to have mental health crises earlier in their lives than men?
To preface this analysis, it is important to remember that mental health is a complex issue, and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all explanation for why some women may experience mental health challenges earlier than men in the US. Societal and cultural pressures, hormonal differences, and individual experiences can all play a role in a person’s well-being and mental health struggles. Mental health varies greatly among individuals, and it is essential to approach this topic with sensitivity and avoid making broad generalizations.
That said, according to the National Institute of Mental Health Disorders, a part of the National Institutes of Health, about 1 in 4 Americans suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder, and disabilities due to mental health disorders account for several of the top causes of disability in the US as well as in other market economies. According to Hannah Furfaro, staff writer for The Seattle Times, “Serious mental illness is more common among women than men — but women with serious conditions are often overlooked in psychiatric research, treated less effectively with psychiatric drugs, and face discrimination and stigma by medical professionals who diagnose them and oversee their care” (2022). Furfaro discusses that the pandemic has likely made the situation worse, as the stressors of caregiving and and having to juggle multiple responsibilities have disproportionately affected women.
The pandemic has exacerbated mental health struggles for both men and women. Poverty, stigma, isolation, and societal pressures all can play a role in adversely affecting mental health outcomes for young women and men.
The tendency for some young women to put more pressure on themselves professionally compared to men can be attributed to various societal and cultural factors. Here are a few possible reasons that young women are disproportionately facing mental health struggles:
1. Gender Expectations: Societal norms and expectations often dictate that women should excel both professionally and in their personal lives. This pressure to “have it all” can lead to higher self-imposed expectations.
2. Gender Wage Gap: Women may feel the need to prove themselves more in the workplace due to the gender wage gap, striving to achieve the same level of recognition and financial success as their male counterparts.
3. Under-representation: In many fields, women are underrepresented in leadership positions, which can create a desire to break through barriers and prove their abilities.
4. Internalized Stereotypes: Some women might internalize stereotypes about women being less competent in certain roles, driving them to work harder to overcome these biases.
5. Family and Caregiving Roles: Balancing professional ambitions with caregiving responsibilities can lead women to put extra pressure on themselves to succeed in their careers.
It’s important to remember that these are general trends, and individuals vary widely in their career motivations and pressures. Additionally, there is ongoing progress towards gender equality in the workplace, which may influence these dynamics over time. However, the Big Tech takeover of digital technologies and the prevalence of Big Tech in our lives has further contributed to negative mental health outcomes, particularly for young women. Let us hope that as the rate of progress accelerates, particularly in digital technologies, so too will adaptations made to benefit people accelerate.
References:
Furfaro, Hannah. (Sep. 16, 2022). “Why women with serious mental illness often get worse care than men.” The Seattle Times.
John Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.) Statistics related to mental health disorders. Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/mental-health-disorder-statistics
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