Final answer:
A young adult male (Option D) is the person least likely to develop major depressive disorder in their lifetime, based on statistical trends that show higher prevalence rates among middle-aged women, adolescent girls, and elderly men.
Step-by-step explanation:
The person least likely to develop major depressive disorder in their lifetime is a young adult male (D). There is a significant body of research indicating that depression is more prevalent in women than in men, and that the risk of depression generally increases with age. Specifically, middle-aged women have been found to have higher rates of depression than other demographic groups. For instance, findings from Kessler et al. (2003) reported higher prevalence rates among women. Adolescents, and particularly adolescent girls, also face a substantial risk of developing depression, as the pubertal transition can be a stressful time which increases the likelihood of depressive symptoms as noted by Ge, Conger, and Elder (2001). Old age is another risk factor for depression due to factors such as retirement, social isolation, and physical health issues, thus elderly men are also at significant risk. Therefore, by process of elimination considering research findings and demographic prevalence patterns, young adult males are statistically the least likely to develop major depressive disorder in their lifetime.