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Testing explanatory models of the interplay between depression, neuroticism, and stressful life events: a dynamic trait-stress generation approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 October 2019

Brandon L. Goldstein Open the ORCID record for Brandon L. Goldstein [Opens in a new window] ,
Greg Perlman ,
Nicholas R. Eaton ,
Roman Kotov  and
Daniel N. Klein
Brandon L. Goldstein*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, NY, USA Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, CT, USA
Greg Perlman
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Stony Brook Medicine, NY, USA
Nicholas R. Eaton
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, NY, USA
Roman Kotov
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, NY, USA Department of Psychiatry, Stony Brook Medicine, NY, USA
Daniel N. Klein
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, NY, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Brandon L. Goldstein, E-mail: brandon.goldstein@stonybrook.edu
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Abstract

Background

Classic conceptual frameworks explaining the relationship of personality traits to depression include the precursor and predisposition models. The former hypothesizes that depression is predicted by traits alone whereas the latter hypothesizes that stress, together with personality, predicts depression. Dynamic vulnerability models (DVM) expand on these perspectives by incorporating fluctuations in personality over time. The stress generation model provides an alternative view, positing that depression generates stress, creating a self-perpetuating cycle. However, these conceptual models are rarely directly compared.

Method

We tested these models, focusing on neuroticism and stressful life events that the participant may have contributed to, using path analysis in a sample of 550 never-depressed, adolescent females assessed five times over 3 years.

Results

A dynamic precursor model with stress generation was best supported. For the precursor component, neuroticism predicted subsequent depression across four assessment intervals. For the dynamic trait component, stressful life events predicted subsequent neuroticism at three of four intervals. Finally, in line with stress generation, depression consistently predicted subsequent stressful life events, and life events then predicted depression.

Conclusions

Finding support for the DVM is noteworthy, as this is the first comprehensive test of this model. Moreover, results supported integrating stress generation with trait vulnerability. Continued use of integrated approaches and refining the statistical implementation of these theories is necessary to advance understanding of the development of depression.

Keywords

Adolescencedepressiondevelopmental psychopathologydynamic vulnerabilityneuroticismprecursorpredispositionstress generationstressful life events
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 50 , Issue 16 , December 2020 , pp. 2780 - 2789
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019

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