GENDERED VULNERABILITY TO DEPRESSION AMONG WOMEN LIVING WITH DIABETES IN INDIA: A BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIAL REVIEW

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a big public health problem in India, and it is becoming more and more linked to serious mental health problems, especially depression. Women with diabetes are more likely than men to be depressed. This is because of biological, psychological, and social factors that are shaped by female experiences and structural inequalities. Using a bio-psycho-social approach, this review looks at how women with diabetes in India are more or less likely to become depressed based on their gender. The study is based on an analysis of 25 peer-reviewed research papers from reputable scientific databases published between 2020 and 2025. The results show that biological factors like changes in hormones, the severity of the disease, and complications linked to diabetes make people more likely to become depressed. Poor mental health outcomes are also caused by psychological factors such as stress, emotional burden, and low self-efficacy linked to diabetes. Social factors, especially gender roles, caregiving duties, limited freedom, and limited access to health care, make women much more vulnerable. Depression also makes it harder to control blood sugar levels and makes it less likely that people will follow their treatment plans. The review shows that there are important gaps in combining mental health services with diabetes care, and it stresses the need for bio-psychosocial treatments that take gender into account. To help depressed women with diabetes, we need healthcare methods that are all-encompassing and take into account both medical and socio-cultural factors.