Minutes

Baltramonaityte, V., Lussier, A. A., Smith, A. D. A. C., Simpkin, A. J., Fairchild, G., Dunn, E. C., & Walton, E. (2025). Stress reactivity moderates the association between stressful life events and depressive symptoms in adolescents: Results from a population-based study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 373, 28–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.12.068  

Why do some teens seem to crumble under stress while others stay steady? Researchers in, Britain, Ireland, and America examined how stress reactivity shapes the link between stressful life events and depression in 16-year-olds.  

Nearly 5,000 adolescents who were part of a large population-based birth cohort reported on stressful life events they experienced since age 12. They rated how strongly those events affected them. Participants completed questionnaires on depressive symptoms and response to stress. Researchers compared how intensely adolescents reacted relative to how many stressful events they faced. 

Results? Adolescents with high stress reactivity show a much stronger link between stressful life events and depressive symptoms compared to those with typical or low reactivity. This effect appears especially strong among girls. 

The takeaway? Stress affects everyone differently. When prevention resources are limited, identifying teens who react more intensely to stress may help target support before depression takes hold. When you feel stressed, take a brief break and a deep breath—do something for yourself you enjoy! Focus on what’s important.  Remember, learning how to handle stress can help protect your mental health.

Written by Kristin M. Harris, Ph.D.