Coping Styles and Sex Differences in Depressive Symptoms and Delinquent Behavior

• NCJ Number: 225922
• Journal: Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 38 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2009 Pages: 122-136
• Author(s): Lisa A. Kort-Butler
• Date Published: January 2009
• Length: 15 pages
• Grant Number(s): P01-HD31921
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined how coping styles were gender-related in ways that might contribute to gender differences in depressive symptoms and delinquent behavior.

Abstract

Consistent with previous research on adolescent well-being, this analysis found that boys reported higher levels of delinquent behavior; whereas, girls reported higher levels of depressive symptoms. There were gender differences in the stress exposure and vulnerability that contributed to gender differences in well-being. Specifically, boys reported higher levels of agentic stressors (violent victimization, academic trouble, and assessments of life chances). This type of stress was apparently a more salient predictor of delinquent behavior for boys compared to girls. Although girls did not report greater exposure to stress, general and communal stress appeared to be more salient predictors of depressive symptoms for girls compared to boys. There were also gender differences in coping styles, but these did not readily explain gender differences in well-being as hypothesized. Girls used an avoidant coping style, and boys used an action coping style. Gender differences in stress and coping styles did not readily translate into differences in the conditioning effect of coping styles between stress and well-being. For both boys and girls, an avoidant coping style and an action coping style contributed to depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that assisting adolescents in developing coping styles that discourage avoiding problems or taking quick action while encouraging problem-solving can help them resist depressive symptoms and delinquent behavior, regardless of gender. Data were obtained from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a nationally representative, probability-based survey of adolescents in grades 7-12. The sample consisted of 5,954 boys and 6,316 girls, with an average age of 15.8 years. The study measured demographic characteristics, delinquent behavior, depressive symptoms, general stress, agentic stress, communal stress, and coping styles. 4 tables and 71 references