Gender Stereotypes and Mental Health Outcomes in Children and Adolescents

Gender differences in mental disorders, such as depression, are well documented. Female adolescents, for example, have a higher incidence of major depression, a more chronic trajectory, an earlier age of onset, and a higher increase in depressive symptoms compared to male adolescents (Crockett et al., 2020; Edwards et al., 2014; Hargrove et al., 2020; Mezulis et al., 2014). Egalitarian gender-role attitudes are associated with fewer conduct problems for adolescent males and females, and for females, less hyperactivity , better prosocial behavior and better overall mental health (King et al., 2019). The results suggest that establishing egalitarian gender attitudes in adolescence could help impart mental health bene ts among this population group. Increased self-focus, low self-esteem, and high levels of interpersonal conformity and compliance are also thought to play a role in mental health outcomes (King et al., 2019). Research on the relationship between gender stereotypes and mental health in children and adolescents remains scarce. Most studies focus on gender differences in societal or medical contexts. However, as the DSM-5 documents differences in prevalence, symptom presentation, and experiences, reporting, and help-seeking behaviors between genders, it raises the question of what factors contribute to these disparities. Therefore, there is a need to investigate this relationship systematically, synthesize existing findings, and provide a foundation for future research on this topic.