Does the hopelessness theory account for sex differences in depressive symptoms among young adults?

The present study examined whether the sex difference in depression could be accounted for within the framework of the hopelessness theory of depression. Specifically, we tested whether young adults' negative inferential styles mediated the sex difference in depressive symptoms or whether sex moderated the cognitive vulnerability-stress effects on depressive symptoms in a multi-wave longitudinal study. In doing so, we examined the different forms of negative inferential styles separately (causes, consequences, self-characteristics, composite, weakest link). Results did not support the mediation hypothesis. In terms of the moderation hypothesis, we found significant sex × inferential style × stress interactions predicting depressive symptoms across the follow-up, with the vulnerability-stress effects significant for men but not women. Among women, negative inferential styles and life events were independent predictors of depressive symptoms. In these moderation analyses, each of the inferential styles exhibited similar predictive validity.