BDNF and depressive symptom measurement: Given that those with homozygous Val alleles did not differ from Met carriers on depressive symptomatology, these data support the position that genes coding for neurotrophins are aligned with enhanced proclivity to adopt problem-focused coping, which may buffer against depression (Ravindran et al., 2002; Matheson and Anisman, 2003; Thompson et al., 2010).