The Moderating Effect of Impulsivity on the Relationship Between Stressful Life Events and Depression Among College Women

Based on the transpersonal model of stress, the purpose of the study was to investigate the moderating effect of impulsivity on the relationship between stressful life events (SLE) and depression among first year university women. Impulsivity consists of tendencies towards lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance, urgency and sensation seeking. Demographic questions, the College Undergraduate Stress Scale, a depression inventory, and items from the Eysenck Personality Scales were completed by 102 female New Zealand university students, aged 17-55 years (mean=28.71, SD=11.18). Multiple linear regression analysis of data showed that impulsivity moderated the association between SLE and depressive symptoms, such that the relationship was statistically significant only for the higher impulsivity group. For therapy, the implication of this finding is that the effects of accumulated stressors on depressive symptoms may be buffered by strengthening executive cognitive functioning abilities involving premeditation and self-control.