Comments on: SELF Magazine: Utah women more depressed than average

By: Frank Staheli

Frank Staheli — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 19:16:33 +0000

Daniel K Judd recently gave a devotional address at BYU (MP3 download free)that indicated the following about LDS people:

1. Some (perhaps many) LDS people have problems with “perfectionism”.
2. Although Utah is 1st in nation for anti-depressants, Utah LDS generally feel better about themselves, and they take far fewer recreational drinks and drugs. It is likely that LDS Utahns are NOT the reason for the high ranking.
3. The LDS divorce rate is well below the national average, AND temple-married LDS are 5 times less likely to divorce than other LDS.
4. Although Utah has the highest suicide rate among young men, a follow-up study found that for those active in the LDS church, the suicide rate is much lower than the national average.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 22:52:25 +0000

“I do remember having a representative from the local Womenâ€™s Shelter come and talk to our class. She said that the rate of spousal abuse in Utah County was just as high as anywhere else. As I recall, the figures were quite alarming.”

A very close relative goes around giving these kinds of presentation. I happen to know that some of this relative’s data and some of this relative’s anecdotes are false. This relative justifies it because it wakes people up.

By: Adam Greenwood

Adam Greenwood — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 22:49:51 +0000

“my wife says playdates are full of women laughing about forgetting to take their â€œhappy pillsâ€. ”

Laughing?

By: jer

jer — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 15:49:34 +0000

Here are some links that suggest that Utah women are not be more depressed than women from other states: BYU Family Studies Center USA Today article, April 2, 2004

By: ECS

ECS — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 13:57:19 +0000

I've seen the higher rape statistics for Utah before, but had no idea it was so much higher than average. Here's more information from the Utah state government:

From 1960 until the early 1990s, the rate of rapes in Utah was markedly lower than that of the U.S. as a whole. (See graph below). In 1992, however, the Utah rate caught up with that of the nation and has been higher every year since.

With respect to the depression stats, Mormons get so defensive whenever this issue comes up because of the implication that the status of women in the Church contributes to their greater risk for depression. While this may be true for some women, most Mormon women I know in my generation are strong and independent and happy. In any case, I think socio-economic status and family circumstances (genetics, etc.) are far better indicators of depression than ones' membership in the Church.

By: Jared

Jared — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 06:42:05 +0000

I’ll go out on a limb and side with the theory that Mormon women are more depressed. OK, maybe not more depressed but certainly taking more anti-depressants. My reasons? I have been shocked at the number of women in our ward who compare what medications there on, which doctors have given their prescriptions, and which prescriptions have worked best compared to those that don’t. It’s a regular cocktail party! Maybe they’re just more open about it than anyother place that I’ve lived but I tend not to think so.