Emotional reactions to stress among adolescent boys and girls: An examination of the mediating mechanisms proposed by general strain theory

This study examines the effects of negative life events on anger and depressed mood among a sample of 7,758 Icelandic adolescents, measured as part of the National Survey of Icelandic Adolescents (Thorlindsson, Sigfusdottir, Bernburg, & Halldorsson, 1998). Using multiple linear regression and multinomial logit regression, we find that (a) girls and boys tend to experience different negative life events, (b) negative life events are associated with comparable levels of anger among boys and girls, (c) negative life events predict depressed mood more strongly among girls than among boys, and (d) conflict with family and friends predicts anger and depressed mood more strongly than other negative life events among boys and girls. These results raise questions about the role of anger and depressed mood in explaining gender differences in stress-related delinquent behavior.