However, the number of stressful life events was significantly associated with depression in both sexes in 4 studies,15,16,20,25 and in 2 studies of females (Figure 3B).17,19 The meta-analysis showed a significant association for females alone (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.23-1.58), males alone (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.16-1.75), and for all participants (OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.27-1.57). Assuming a normal distribution for the β coefficient (log of the OR), this estimate is statistically significant, with a Z score of 6.35 and a P value of <.001.
