The moderating effects of executive functioning on the relationship between life stress and depression

Depression is a significant problem, which is often related to stressful life events. Individual responses to life stress can vary depending on vulnerability factors, such as ability to regulate emotions. Studies have demonstrated that emotion regulation involves executive functioning abilities. Executive functioning is not only associated with cognition, but also emotional and behavioral control. Difficulty with executive function is sometimes associated with depression. Though there is an established relationship in the literature between life stress and depression, the moderating effects of executive functioning on the relationship between life stress and depression remains unknown. This study will use multiple linear regression to test whether executive functioning moderates the influence of life stress on depression.