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Evaluating the relation between trait anxiety and stressful life events: implications for stress-induced depression vulnerability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 August 2025

R. O. I. Font ,
M. C. Casanovas ,
A. D. A. Arnau ,
M. U. Sarachaga  and
V. S. Tomàs
R. O. I. Font*
Affiliation:
Psychiatry, Hospital de Bellvitge
M. C. Casanovas
Affiliation:
Psychiatry, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona
A. D. A. Arnau
Affiliation:
Psychiatry, Hospital de Bellvitge
M. U. Sarachaga
Affiliation:
Psychiatry, Hospital de Bellvitge
V. S. Tomàs
Affiliation:
Psychiatry, Hospital Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Spain
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) significantly impacts global disability and quality of life. Some variables such as the trait anxiety and experiencing stressful life events (SLEs) are usually related to the MDD. However, the relationship between these variables in depression needs further investigation. Emerging research suggests the STAI-trait could be a nonspecific measure of negative effect and increase susceptibility to stress-induced depression.

Objectives

This study assesses the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) trait scores and SLEs, depressive symptoms, outcomed and functionality in MDD patients, with the hypothesis that STAI-trait may predispose individuals to stress-induced depression.

Methods

A prospective observational study was conducted with 25 MDD patients recruited at Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge. The STAI-trait and SLE exposure were measured during the initial visit. Depression symptom and outcome variables were assessed in three sequential clinical evaluations.

Results

Preliminary findings show a significant association between anxiety trait and SLEs, high STAI-trait scores correlated positively with increased SLEs. This, correlating with more severe MDD symptoms and a complex disease course.

Conclusions

These findings support the notion of the STAI-trait as a possible mediator between life stressors and depression.

They highlight that increased STAI-trait anxiety might lead to greater vulnerability to stress and its potentially depressive effects, underscoring the need to consider this trait in clinical practice and the development of preventive strategies.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Information

Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 68 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 33rd European Congress of Psychiatry , April 2025 , pp. S649
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of European Psychiatric Association
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