Movies, sitcoms and teen magazines feature articles about techniques of getting and holding your man as the key to a successful life. In addition to genetic issues, family factors such as the quality of the parents' marriage, parenting style, role modeling and the emotional status of the parents are related to depression in girls. Research shows that daughters whose parents have an egalitarian relationship, and daughters whose parents are supportive, attentive, receptive to emotions, rather than punishing and restricting, show lower levels of depression. 7 Research results also indicate that girls are more likely than boys to react to negative events in the family. 8 Adolescent girls, closely bound to their families, are more likely to be exposed to family stresses over a longer period of time.
Girls learn about being female from modeling themselves on their mothers.
In addition to the genetic factor, children of depressed mothers are vulnerable to emotional problems. Some experts think that females' tendency to place greater value than males do on interpersonal connection and relationships with other people renders them more vulnerable to losses and depression. The increase in depressed mood of adolescent girls, not boys, correlates with stressful life events. Childhood sexual abuse is an important early stressor, and the rates of sexual abuse in girls increase substantially in early adolescence with the greatest increase occurring between ages 10 and 14. Sexual abuse impacts on both physiological and psychological functioning.