The psychometric assessment of anger in male and female adolescents resident at a secure youth treatment centre

This longitudinal study examined 75 young adolescents to explore whether selfcompetence predicts the emergence of gender differences in depression and anxiety. During both 6th and 7th grade, boys reported significantly higher levels of selfcompetence than did girls. In addition, boys were significantly less depressed and anxious than girls in 7th grade, but not in 6th grade. Finally, when the variance contributed by self-competence was accounted for, the relationship between gender and trait anxiety weakened and the relationship between gender and depression became non-significant. These results support the hypothesis that self-competence is partially responsible for the emergence of gender differences in depression and anxiety during early adolescence.