Sex differences in event-related risk for major depression

Background. This study sought to determine if women are more likely than me n to experience an episode of major depression in response to stressful lif e events. Method. Sex differences in event-related risk for depression were examined by means of secondary analyses employing data from the Americans' Changing Lives study. The occurrence and time of occurrence of depression onset and instances of stressful life events within a 12-month period preceding a str uctured interview were documented in a community-based sample of 1024 men a nd 1800 women. Survival analytical techniques were used to examine sex; dif ferences in risk for depression associated with generic and specific stress ful life events. Results. Women were approximately three times more likely than men to exper ience major depression in response to any stressful life event. Women and m en did not differ in risk for depression associated with the death of a spo use or child, events affecting their relationship to a spouse/partner (divo rce and marital/love problems) or events corresponding to acute financial o r legal difficulties. Women were at elevated risk for depression associated with more distant interpersonal losses (death of a close friend or relativ e) and other types of events (change of residence, physical attack, or life -threatening illness/injury). Conclusion. Stressful life events overall, with some exceptions among speci fic event types, pose a greater risk for depression among women compared to men.