Age and gender as determinants of stress exposure, generation, and reactions in youngsters: A transactional perspective

The present study used a contextual and transactional approach to examine a ge and gender differences in the experience and consequences of life stress in clinic-referred preadolescents and adolescents. Eighty-eight youngsters and their parents completed the Child Episodic Life Stress Interview, a de tailed semistructured interview assessing the occurrence of stressful event s in multiple life domains. Interviews were coded using a contextual threat rating method to determine event stressfulness and dependence. Youngsters also completed the Children's Depression Inventory and the Revised Child Ma nifest Anxiety Scale to assess self-reported symptoms of depression and anx iety. Consistent with predictions, age- and gender-related patterns of life stress varied across the type and context of stressors. Most notably, adol escent girls experienced the highest levels of interpersonal stress, especi ally stress and conflict that they generated within parent-child and peer r elationships. Preadolescent girls experienced the highest levels of indepen dent stress and conflict in the family context. Adolescent boys experienced the highest levels of noninterpersonal stress associated with self-generat ed events. Girls demonstrated particular vulnerability to depressive respon ses to dependent stress. The results build on and extend previous theory an d research on age and gender differences in close relationships and stress, and illustrate the value of more refined conceptual models and more sophis ticated methodologies in child life stress research.