Life events, environmental variables and child depression

There is substantial evidence of a significant correlation between life events (LE), socio-environmental factors and the occurrence of psychopathological disorders. This study investigates the possible influence of these variables on depression in children between the ages of 7 and 12 years. We have interviewed parents of 15 depressed and 30 control children, and used the Coddington lists of LE. From a statistical analysis of the response it emerged that what characterises depressed children is a higher number of undesirable and uncontrolled events in the recent past and a lower parent educational level. A few events in particular appear to be strong risk factors. The event 'outstanding personal achievement', much more represented in the control group, seems to be a strengthening event and a stress moderator.