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Does self-competence predict gender differences in adolescent depression and anxiety?
C McCauley Ohannessian1, R M Lerner, J V Lerner
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut Medical School, Farmington 06030-2103, USA.
Abstract:
This longitudinal study examined 75 young adolescents to explore whether self-competence predicts the emergence of gender differences in depression and anxiety. During both 6th and 7th grade, boys reported significantly higher levels of self-competence than did girls. In addition, boys were significantly less depressed and anxious than girls in 7th grade, but not in 6th grade. Finally, when the variance contributed by self-competence was accounted for, the relationship between gender and trait anxiety weakened and the relationship between gender and depression became non-significant. These results support the hypothesis that self-competence is partially responsible for the emergence of gender differences in depression and anxiety during early adolescence.
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