Review Article
Li Yue, Zhang Dajun, Liang Yin
Abstract
In the present study, a meta-analysis of 71 independent samples was performed to assess the relationship between life events and adolescent depression. In ddition, the influence of correlated variables is discussed. Analysis using the fixedeffect model showed that life events are positively correlated with adolescent depression (r = 0.319). Gender, cultural background, and type of life event might mediate the relationship between life events and adolescent depression: the relationship between depression and life events was greater in adolescent females than in adolescent males. Compared to adolescents in Western countries, life events more heavily affected depression in adolescents in China. Trivial affairs were more related to adolescent depression than were critical life events. Moreover, the way in which life events were measured did not affect the observed relationship between life events and depression. Thus, the following conclusions were reached: life events are closely related to adolescent depression, and the relationship between the two is affected by gender, cultural background, and type of life event. The measurement of daily events does not affect the relationship between life events and depression in adolescents.