title: Does self-competence predict gender differences in adolescent depression and anxiety?
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut Medical School, Farmington 06030-2103, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCauley Ohannessian
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lerner
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Lerner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: von Eye
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010414:Pennsylvania; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors