Gender Differences and Prevalence Rates of Depressive Symptoms among Children and Adolescents from Egypt and Kuwait

Abstract

The aims of the present study were to explore the sex-related differences and prevalence rates of depressive symptoms among two samples of children and adolescents from Egypt (N=943) and Kuwait (N=1100). The Multidimensional Child and Adolescent Depression Scale (MCADS) developed by Abdel-Khalek (2002) was administered. Sex-related differences were statistically significant on the MCADS total score on both countries and five subscales among Egyptian and seven in Kuwaiti samples favoring females. The highest mean scores in all groups were on the fatigue and sleep problems subscales. Egyptians obtained higher mean scores than Kuwaitis on the MCADS total score as well as four subscales. Egyptian females obtained higher mean scores than their Kuwaiti counterparts on three subscales. Prevalence rates of the total score on the MCADS ranged between 3.9 and 5.9. Thus, sex-related and sub-culture differences were explicit in depressive symptoms as far as the present investigation is concerned.