The present study examined, first, the associations between age, gender, psychosomatic and emotional symptoms in case of Taiwan to inspect whether theories which have developed based on the studies of American society can be generalized cross-culturally, while taking in to account the effects of marital status, SES (including education, self-rated class, and income), and religion. Second, the age and gender differences on the relationships between life strain (e.g., physical health problems) and life event and psychosomatic and emotional symptoms were also investigated. Third, this study tested the age and gender differences on the relationships between social support and social contact and the mental health symptoms just mentioned. Finally, the buffering (or moderator) effect of social support on the associations between life strain and life event and the psychological distresses (e.g., psychosomatic and emotional symptoms) was tested. The data was drawn from a nationwide household survey (n = 2,530) of adults age 18 to 64. Using Multiple Classification Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling (including model comparison procedures) with test for statistical significance, the findings revealed that elder people and women had greater sources of life strain and higher level of mental health symptoms. In other words, there existed significant age and gender differences among life strain, psychosomatic and emotional symptoms. However, no age or gender differences were found on social support or social contact. Social support had no buffering influence on the association between life strain (or life event) and the mental health symptoms either. In brief, some theories were supported by the findings of the present study but some other were contradicted. The findings were discussed in terms of their limitations and implications for further studies.