The accumulation of adverse life events across the life course and their association with mental health and well-being: exploring gender heterogeneity

Background

Most individuals experience multiple adverse life events across their life course, accumulating into cumulative disadvantage with lasting consequences for mental health and well-being. Evidence suggests that women's mental health and well-being is more vulnerable to the negative consequences of single adverse life events, due to gender differences in event perception, available resources, and preferred coping strategies. Until now it's unclear whether these gendered patterns hold when looking at the accumulation of adverse events over a life course. The aim of this study is to examine if the accumulation of adverse life events is associated with depressive symptomatology, life satisfaction, and quality of life with a central focus on gender differences in these relationships.