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BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest that separation is a major stressful life event that is linked with marked increases in depressive symptoms. Little is known, however, about the sources of variation in depressive symptoms following separation. METHOD: This study examines factors moderating the effect of separation on depressive symptoms in women participating in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a prospective, longitudinal study of a large community sample in the west of England. Data on marital/partner status, depression, and hypothesized moderating factors were available on women (n = 8264), assessed on two occasions approximately 12 months apart. RESULTS: Over this 1-year period, 2.7% of women experienced a separation. As expected, those who experienced a separation between assessment periods reported, on average, a significant increase in depressive symptoms, approximately 0.25 of a S.D. However, there were marked individual differences in response to separation, with 56.1% showing a increase of 0.5 S.D. or more and 21.0% showing an decrease of 0.5 S.D. or more in depressive symptoms following separation. Regression analyses identified several factors that moderated response to separation; specifically, the effect of separation on depressive symptoms was less for women who were in a cohabiting (non-marital) relationship and for women who experienced elevated marital conflict prior to separation. CONCLUSION: The results underscore the wide variation in responses to separation and document the need to consider context in interpreting the effects of major life events on depressive symptoms.
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