A nurse is reviewing the history of a client recently diagnosed with major depressive disorder. The client has no prior psychiatric history. The client reports the following during assessment: Recently lost a parent to cancer Family history of mood disorders Working two jobs with long hours Reports poor sleep and increased irritability Which of the following should the nurse identify as the primary risk factor for developing depression in this client?

A. Family history of mood disorders: A genetic predisposition can increase susceptibility to depression, but without a personal psychiatric history, it is a contributing rather than primary risk factor in this scenario. B. Working two jobs with long hours: Occupational stress can exacerbate depressive symptoms and contribute to burnout, but it is typically a secondary or situational risk factor rather than the primary trigger for a new onset of major depressive disorder. C. Poor sleep and irritability: Sleep disturbances and irritability are often symptoms of depression rather than independent primary risk factors. They reflect the current manifestation of the disorder rather than the initial cause. D. Loss of a parent due to cancer: Experiencing the death of a parent is a significant psychosocial stressor and a primary precipitating factor for depression. Major life events involving grief are strongly associated with the onset of depressive episodes in individuals without prior psychiatric history.