Final answer:
The main reason for women being 50 percent more likely to experience depression than men is social and environmental conditions. These include gender roles, societal expectations, and institutionalized sexism, which contribute to the disparity seen in depression rates. The correct option is D.
Step-by-step explanation:
Women are indeed about 50 percent more likely to experience depression than men. One of the main reasons for this difference, supported by extensive research, is d. social and environmental conditions. Factors such as gender roles, stress from multiple responsibilities, discrimination, and societal expectations can contribute to the disparity in depression rates between men and women.
This is not to say that biological differences, such as hormonal levels, do not play a role; however, the broad array of social and environmental conditions has a significant impact and better explains the gender disparity in depression rates.
Research such as that by Nolen-Hoeksema and others has shown that various factors, including sex-linked traits, hormonal levels, and brain structure differences, can contribute to risk for depression, but it is the social and environmental factors that are the primary contributors.
For instance, institutionalized sexism and societal pressures can lead to a higher incidence of mental health disorders in women, and these societal factors play a substantial role in the prevalence of depression among women.