Explaining gender differences in symptoms of subjective distress in young adolescents.

Gender differences in symptoms of subjective distress and four hypothesized mediating mechanisms were examined in a random sample of young adolescents who were initially studied as seventh graders in the early 1970s (mostly aged 12 and 13) and followed up in the eighth and ninth grades respectively. The results based on structural equations modeling (LISREL) provided support for the hypothesis that adolescent girls experienced greater levels of subjective distress than adolescent boys. The higher level of subjective distress in adolescent girls is partially accounted for by the greater likelihood of girls experiencing fluctuation in self-images, being sensitive to peer reaction and using more avoidance defense mechanisms. Parental restriction reported at an earlier point in time does not directly affect subsequent subjective distress independent of the other mediating factors.