Life Events, Coping, Stress, and Depressive Symptomatology

The author presents data on the relationships between life events, coping resources, and depressive symptomatology. A probability sample (N = 517) was interviewed three years apart. Respondents with high life-event scores had significantly more depressive symptomatology than those with low scores. Those with personal, familial, and interpersonal resources had significantly less depressive symptomatology than those without such resources in both the low- and high-life-event groups. The best predictor of Time 2 depressive symptom scores was Time 1 symptom scores; losses and resources were also statistically significant factors. These findings demonstrate the complex interrelatedness of life events, coping resources, and depressive symptomatology.