The balancing act that women have to perform, between their personal and professional life, can create an ample amount of stress for them which, in turn, may lead to depression. Not only this, women have to make an extra effort so as to do better than their male counterparts and to make their efficiency noticed and appreciated. And at the same time they have to look after their household. These two aspects of life often tear a woman into two making her prone to depression.

Survey suggests that the chances of women suffering from depression are greater when they enter wedlock. It has been noticed in almost every household that once married a man’s duty regarding the household chores is relatively reduced than it used to be when he was single and that of a woman is increased twice. Had women their own preferences on doing the household chores, their anxiety and distress would have been relatively reduced.

When we hear of such things some of us might label it as laziness on the part of the women, for we are bound by the mindset since our childhood that being a woman our duty is to perform the entire household task. We are made to believe that the life of a woman revolves around the entire household and it is her responsibility to ensure the well being of her family. And some of us do not even appreciate the thought that our better half is as much responsible as we are for the well being of our family.

There are several reasons of household task being a cause of severe distress. Task such as cooking, doing the dishes, washing, cleaning, shopping for groceries are some of the housework which is least appreciated and least fulfilling that often go unnoticed by others. And as a result it becomes a cause of mental strain. The presence of dependent children in the family is also a major risk for depression among women.

The more the number of children, higher is the chance for women to suffer from depression. However, there is a difference between the depression that a working wife experiences and that experienced by a homemaker or a housewife. Working wives are often under distress in trying to rule out a balance between their professional atmosphere and their personal atmosphere which are very different.

There is a sense of over-loaded pressure which engulfs them in trying to maintain the balance efficiently. And as far as homemakers are concerned, they are burdened with the thought that they are confined within the four walls of their home, trying to bring up their children and their own self being reduced to a scullery maid.

However, marriage seems to provide a protective cover to men. Their chances of undergoing depression are much lesser than the bachelors. Yet, if the spouse vows to share all the housework right from the beginning, then the bride might improve their married life for the better. Sharing of work is what makes the difference between well being and psychological distress.