An Invariant Dimensional Liability Model of Gender Differences in Mental Disorder Prevalence: Evidence from a National Sample

Nicholas R Eaton; Katherine M Keyes; Robert F Krueger; Steve Balsis; Andrew E Skodol; Kristian E Markon; Bridget F Grant; Deborah S Hasin

doi:10.1037/a0024780

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An Invariant Dimensional Liability Model of Gender Differences in Mental Disorder Prevalence: Evidence from a National Sample

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An Invariant Dimensional Liability Model of Gender Differences in Mental Disorder Prevalence: Evidence from a National Sample

Nicholas R Eaton, Katherine M Keyes, Robert F Krueger, Steve Balsis, Andrew E Skodol, Kristian E Markon, Bridget F Grant and Deborah S Hasin

Journal of abnormal psychology (1965), Vol.121(1), pp.282-288

02/2012

DOI: 10.1037/a0024780

PMCID: PMC3402021

PMID: 21842958

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/3402021View

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Abstract

Epidemiological studies of categorical mental disorders consistently report that gender differences exist in many disorder prevalence rates, and that disorders are often comorbid. Can a dimensional multivariate liability model be developed to clarify how gender impacts diverse, comorbid mental disorders? We pursued this possibility in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC; N = 43,093). Gender differences in prevalence were systematic such that women showed higher rates of mood and anxiety disorders and men showed higher rates of antisocial and substance use disorders. We next investigated patterns of disorder comorbidity and found that a dimensional internalizing (mood and anxiety)-externalizing (antisocial and substance use) liability model fit the data well. This model was gender invariant, indicating that observed gender differences in prevalence rates originate from women and men's different average standings on latent internalizing and externalizing liability dimensions. As hypothesized, women showed a higher mean level of internalizing while men showed a higher mean level of externalizing. We discuss implications of these findings for understanding gender differences in psychopathology and for classification and intervention.

internalizing-externalizing

comorbidity

prevalence rates

gender differences

Details

Title: Subtitle: An Invariant Dimensional Liability Model of Gender Differences in Mental Disorder Prevalence: Evidence from a National Sample
Creators: Nicholas R Eaton - University of Minnesota
Katherine M Keyes - Columbia University
Robert F Krueger - University of Minnesota
Steve Balsis - Texas A&M University
Andrew E Skodol - Columbia University
Kristian E Markon - University of Iowa
Bridget F Grant - National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Deborah S Hasin - Columbia University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of abnormal psychology (1965), Vol.121(1), pp.282-288
DOI: 10.1037/a0024780
PMID: 21842958
PMCID: PMC3402021
NLM abbreviation: J Abnorm Psychol
ISSN: 0021-843X
eISSN: 1939-1846
Grant note: K05 AA014223 || AA / National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism : NIAAA U01 AA018111-02 || AA / National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism : NIAAA
Language: English
Date published: 02/2012
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences
Record Identifier: 9984083884802771

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