Stress processes and trajectories of depressive symptoms in early life: Gendered development (original) (raw)

Despite considerable advances, significant gaps remain in our knowledge of how gender differences in depression develop over the life course. Applying mixed model growth curves to the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health, this study investigates gendered variation in the causes and course of depressive symptom trajectories across early life. Results show curvilinear trajectories, rising through adolescence, and falling in young adulthood, with female disadvantage persistent, but narrowing over time. The effects of stressful life events (SLEs) and social $ We are grateful to Amanda Byrd for comments and suggestions that contributed significantly to this chapter.