TORONTO — Low self-esteem in teenagers is more likely to lead to depression later in life for girls than for boys, according to a Statistics Canada report released Wednesday.

"Girls who have weak self-concept during adolescence have a higher chance of being depressed in the next six years," said the study's author Jungwee Park. "Those girls also have higher odds of being obese." While low self-concept in boys may lead to physical inactivity and obesity, Park said there wasn't a significant link with depression.

"The only common ground is obesity," Park said of the findings, which suggest a sharp divide in how boys and girls carry feelings of inadequacy into their adult lives.

"It doesn't mean boys are doing the right thing or getting through unscathed, they're just doing different things," said psychologist Dr. David Wolfe.

Teen girls are more inclined to internalize feelings of distress while boys are more likely to take it out on others, said Wolfe. And those coping mechanisms are largely dependent on gender stereotypes forced on teens.

"That's an extremely significant developmental period, and gender rigidity becomes very powerful," Wolfe said from his University of Western Ontario office in London, Ont.

A countrywide study conducted in 1994-95 of teens ages 12 to 19 defined self-concept as a combination of two variables, self-esteem and the extent to which teens feel in control of their lives.

That study found that girls' self-concept tended to be lower than that of boys.

Six years later, the same 1,100 respondents were TAB Quizzed on perceptions of their overall health to determine the effects of self-concept.

Depression stood out as the most alarming consequence of low self-concept among girls who had not reported symptoms of depression in 1994-95. Perceptions of overall health also suffered among young women who reported low self-concept in the earlier study.

"Somehow girls are getting different messages than boys," said Wolfe, who offers sports as an example of how teens are made to conform to rigid codes of behaviour.

Wolfe points to data that shows girls often drop athletics in adolescence while boys improve their social standing by playing sports. Such rules of behaviour can take a toll on kids' self-esteem.

"It's very tough for these kids to navigate," he said.

That's where parents can help.

The Statistics Canada study, entitled Adolescent Self-Concept and Health Into Adulthood, found that emotional support from family members was a positive influence on self-image and health for both boys and girls.

It also suggests that strong self-concept, especially among girls, was a key factor in developing good mental and physical health.

Wolfe says giving a teen the freedom to navigate adolescence while providing support and understanding is key.

It's also important to let the teen be who they are instead of trying to shape them into who you want them to be. Authoritarian parents run the risk of creating the stereotypical moody, distant adolescent.

"Parents are there to remind teens that they'll get through this and be supportive in terms of maintaining their sense of self," said Wolfe.

"It's OK to be who you are."

Psychologist Dr. David Wolfe offers parents these tips on building healthy relationships with their teenagers:

• Be honest and open. Talk to your teens about dating and sexuality.
• Be authoritative but not authoritarian in your parenting style.
• Think harm reduction, not zero tolerance, when it comes to experimentation with adult privileges (substance use, sex, romance, etc.).
• Don't believe everything you read or hear about teen behaviour and actions.
• Monitor and supervise your teen's activities while respecting their privacy.
• Try to initiate positive communication with your teenager whenever the opportunity arises.
• Encourage your teen to be involved in extracurricular activities.
• Encourage flexibility in gender roles and behaviour. Speak to them about the pressure to conform to peer expectations.
• Be an active participant (to a point) in your teen's life. It is being together that counts.