Gender Differences in the Costs and Benefits of Peer Relationships During Adolescence

The purpose of this study was to examine gender differences in the impact of social stress and social support on adolescents' emotional well-being. Forty-eight males and 70 females in Grades 7 through 11 were administered a questionnaire containing scales measuring self-esteem, depression, social suppor4 and social stress. Females reported greater depression, lower self-esteem, and greater problem-focused support than did males. There were no significant differences in the amount of social stress or emotional support reported by males and females. Results revealed that social stress was strongly correlated with higher depression and lower self-esteem scores for females but not for males. In contrast, social support was correlated with lower depression scores and higher self-esteem scores to a greater extent for males than for females.