Sex differences in health and illness.

Abstract

The literature on sex differences in illness and disease was examined. Although some biologic sex differences are thought to exist, the overlap between the sexes precluded separation of the sexes for treatment or control of problem conditions. Statistics Canada data on mental illness among males and females in Canada were also examined, and deficiencies in available information were discussed. Most notably lacking were statistics on the use of outpatient mental health services. A number of recommendations were made regarding the collection of Canadian mental health statistics. RESUMEAnalyse de la litteVature portant sur les differences entre sexes en ce qui concerne la maladie et la sante. Tout en reconnaissant qu'il existe des differences biologiques liees au sexe, le recouvrement entre sexes empeche d'etablir une separation dans le traitement et le controle des conditions problemes. Une examen des statistiques canadiennes sur la maladie mentale des hommes et des femmes montre de plus que les informations disponibles sont deficientes. La deficience la plus marquee concerne I'usage des services de sante en clinique externe. Suivent certaines recommandations concernant I'etablissement des statistiques sur la sante mentale au Canada.

Canadian feminism and psychology: The first decade.

“…Burke and Weir (1978b) similarly interpret their findings of the greater reported stress and poorer emotional and physical well-being of female adolescents relative to their male counterparts, as due to the contradictions and inconsistencies in the sex-role socialization of women. Luce and Wand (1977) have summarized some inpatient statistics on the incidence of mental illness in Canada. Overall, it appears that there are more males than females in psychiatric institutions and that the male rate of first admissions per 100,000 population age 15 and over, is higher than that for females (in contrast to American statistics).…”

“…Pyke (1978) has described some of the meta-differences between the Canadian brand of the psychology of women and its American analogue, but specific content distinctions also exist. Consider, for example, the differences in child training values (Lambert et al, 1971) and the male/female incidence figures for mental illness (Luce & Wand, 1977). Uniquely Canadian issues have also been addressed -the effects of maternal employment in Francophone families (Gold et al, 1979), psychotropic drug use by Francophone women (Marinier, Pihl, & Lapp, Note 9), and the socialization of South Asian women in Canada (Naidoo, 1980).…”

Les thérapies féministes: un noveau système psychothérapeutique?

“…De maniere generate, les travaux d'ordre scientifique ont verifie les critiques des theories traditionnelles. Des etudes statistiques ont montre qu'il existe plus de femmes que d'hommes consultant pour des difficultes psychologiques (Conseil du statut de la femme, 1978; Health, Education and Welfare, Etats-Unis, 1970) et que ces difficultes sont particulieres aux femmes (Luce & Wand, 1977). De plus, des etudes sociologiques ont tente d'expliquer ce taux eleve de difficultes psychologiques chez les femmes.…”