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Why do Women get Depressed and Men get Drunk? An Examination of Attributional Style and Coping Style in Response to Negative Life Events Among Canadian Young Adults

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Abstract

Gender differences in alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms are well known. This study focused on the associations of gender with attributional style, coping style, and negative life events in explaining these differences. The association of gender with each of the predictor and outcome variables was examined. One hundred eight (51 men, 57 women) undergraduate university students, ages 18–21, completed validated measures of depression, alcohol consumption, attributional style, coping style, and negative life events. Participants reported mild-moderate levels of depressive symptoms, similar to comparable samples. In contrast, alcohol consumption was lower than expected. Depressive symptoms were associated with negative events and rumination among both men and women. Pessimism and wine consumption were correlated with depression among women only. Although men consumed more alcohol than did women, a gender difference in depressive symptoms was not found. Potential implications of these findings are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto

    Benjamin I. Goldstein

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5

    Benjamin I. Goldstein

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  1. Benjamin I. Goldstein
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Correspondence to Benjamin I. Goldstein.

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Goldstein, B.I. Why do Women get Depressed and Men get Drunk? An Examination of Attributional Style and Coping Style in Response to Negative Life Events Among Canadian Young Adults. Sex Roles 54, 27–37 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-006-8867-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-006-8867-8

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