Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders, affecting over 280 million people worldwide. Although it can appear in some children, its symptoms usually become more apparent during adolescence, which may be linked to various challenges faced by teenagers, such as physical, emotional, and social changes.

Teen depression often manifests as a low mood or loss of interest in usual activities, along with other common symptoms like insomnia, irritability, weight changes, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, and decreased self-esteem.

Did you know that adolescent girls are more prone to depression than their male peers? Recent studies have shown a significant increase in anxiety and depression rates among teenage girls compared to boys.

A 2017 study published in the Journal of Translational Psychiatry found that 36% of girls aged 12 to 17 exhibited symptoms of depression, compared to only 14% of boys of the same age. This disorder is linked to serious consequences including declining academic performance, strained social relationships, and increased suicide attempts.

In 2023, a U.S. survey revealed that more than half of high school girls reported persistent feelings of “sadness or hopelessness”—key indicators of depression—while about one-third of adolescent boys reported the same feelings.

The study involved over 17,000 students from 31 states answering nearly 100 questions related to mental health. Data showed an 8 percentage point increase in persistent sadness and hopelessness among boys from 21% to 29%, while the growth rate was much faster among girls, rising by 21 percentage points from 36% to 57%.

A recent Pew Research Center survey of 1,391 adolescents from September 18 to October 10, 2024, indicated that teenage girls suffer from anxiety and depression more than boys.

Researchers believe this disparity may arise from biological, emotional, or social reasons. Social and academic pressures are among the causes mentioned in the Pew Center survey, with about 7 out of 10 teenage girls (71%) reporting high pressure to get good grades, and about 6 out of 10 girls (55%) feeling significant pressure to improve their appearance and social conformity.

Other factors responsible for the difference in depression rates between girls and boys include:

• Early puberty is a possible explanation, as girls face puberty and hormonal fluctuations earlier than ever. According to a 2020 global data analysis, the average age of puberty in girls has decreased by three months every decade over the past 40 years.
• Puberty stimulates estrogen secretion, which activates the “stress mechanism.” With earlier puberty onset in girls, estrogen begins to affect brain chemistry, including areas related to mood and emotion that have not yet matured or are not ready to handle estrogen activity. Therefore, early puberty in girls is linked to more depressive symptoms peaking at a younger age, according to Psychology Today.
• Girls often face greater social pressures than boys, from body image expectations to academic performance and focus on competition. These pressures can burden young girls, leading to low self-esteem, fear of judgment, and feelings of failure, especially when they feel unable to talk about or express their feelings freely.
• Dona Jackson Nakazawa, author of “Girls on the Edge,” told CNN that girls spend more time on social media and know they are more likely to be liked or disliked based on their appearance, which increases dissatisfaction with their body image and drives constant comparisons with influencers and the use of filtered images showing thinner bodies and more symmetrical faces to appear attractive.
• Nakazawa noted, “These factors can affect self-esteem and confidence, cause stress and self-criticism, leading to depressive symptoms.”
• She added that girls face additional threats such as sexual harassment and verbal or physical abuse, which leave lasting impacts on their mental health and significantly increase the risk of depression.
• There are clear differences in how girls and boys process emotional stimuli; girls focus more on their feelings, especially when hurt or rejected, expressing sadness, crying, and isolation. This sensitivity may make them more vulnerable to depression and anxiety, according to the Child Mind Institute.
• On the other hand, boys suppress their feelings or express them through anger rather than sadness, so depression in boys may sometimes go unnoticed.

Parents can help their daughters navigate adolescence without depression or anxiety by following some strategies, including:

• Listen to your daughter without judgment: Sometimes just listening to her worries and feelings is better than judging her behavior or rushing to fix things.
• Ensure your daughter feels supported and accepted: Girls with depression often feel intense guilt, so encourage them to express themselves through journaling, help them set achievable goals, and praise their efforts.
• Promote healthy habits: Encourage your daughter to follow a healthy diet, find ways to manage stress, exercise, and limit social media use to reduce the risk of depression.
• Consult a mental health professional: Depression can seriously affect a girl’s mental and physical health, so consulting a mental health specialist is important to help her overcome depression’s effects and regain control of her life.