Several studies have found that the experience of stressful life events (ranging from more severe events, such as divorce or bereavement, to daily hassles, such as family-related obligations) can lead to symptoms of depression. However, the impact of these events varies, and not everyone who experiences a stressful event goes on to experience depression. We’re interested in studying whether cognitive vulnerability, the tendency to make negative causal inferences about an event, can explain this difference (i.e., is an effect modifier). That is, the interpretation of the event, rather than exposure to the event alone, may be particularly important for predicting future depression. This study aims to investigate how the impact of stressful events varies between people, and why certain people go on to experience depression while others do not. These findings could inform potential targets for interventions which intend to prevent depressive symptoms.