Women in power more likely to become depressed than men: Study

Men and women who are in high powered positions experience more stress, however a new study found that holding a position of power with weighty responsibilities can actually increase symptoms of depression in women but diminishes them in men.

"Women with job authority -- the ability to hire, fire and influence pay -- have significantly more symptoms of depression than women without this power," lead study author Tetyana Pudrovska. Pudrovska, a sociologist at the University of Texas at Austin, explained in a press release. "In contrast, men with job authority have fewer symptoms of depression than men without such power."

Researchers say the extra stress is most likely due to the fact that women are faced with more stereotypes and resistance to their leadership.

"What's striking is that women with job authority in our study are advantaged in terms of most characteristics that are strong predictors of positive mental health," said Pudrovska.

"These women have more education, higher incomes, more prestigious occupations, and higher levels of job satisfaction and autonomy than women without job authority. Yet, they have worse mental health than lower-status women."

Interestingly, the study also found that men with a high authority actually had fewer depressive symptoms than those with slower paced jobs.

"Men in positions of authority are consistent with the expected status beliefs, and male leadership is accepted as normative and legitimate," Pudrovska said. "This increases men's power and effectiveness as leaders and diminishes interpersonal conflict."

Dr. Ruth Sealy from the City University London Department of Psychology added, "It's a no win situation for women at times. They are always told to replicate the traits of a good leader. But when they do that and become authoritative, like their male counterparts, they are criticized as being unfeminine."