Sex Differences in Adolescent Depression: Stress Exposure and Reactivity Models

TLDR

The study examined stress exposure and reactivity models to explain why girls show higher depressive symptoms than boys. A multiwave longitudinal study of 538 adolescents (54.5 % female, ages 13–18) assessed depressive symptoms, alcohol use, and daily stressors at baseline, 6, and 12 months, with stressors coded into developmental domains via a modified contextual‑threat approach. Girls reported higher depressive symptoms and more interpersonal and peer stressors, and their stronger stress reactivity partially explained the sex difference; the temporal relationship between depression and stressors varied by domain.

Abstract

Stress exposure and reactivity models were examined as explanations for why girls exhibit greater levels of depressive symptoms than boys. In a multiwave, longitudinal design, adolescents' depressive symptoms, alcohol usage, and occurrence of stressors were assessed at baseline, 6, and 12 months later ( N =538; 54.5% female; ages 13–18, average 14.9). Daily stressors were coded into developmentally salient domains using a modified contextual‐threat approach. Girls reported more depressive symptoms and stressors in certain contexts (e.g., interpersonal) than boys. Sex differences in depression were partially explained by girls reporting more stressors, especially peer events. The longitudinal direction of effects between depression and stressors varied depending on the stressor domain. Girls reacted more strongly to stressors in the form of depression.