Journal de la dépression et de l'anxiété
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The Burden of Depression among Indian Adolescents: A Study on Cross-Sectional Data

Mayank Singh1*, Neha Shri2, Priyanka Patel3, Krittika Bhattacharyya4, Deepak Dhamnetiya5, Ravi Prakash Jha5

Background: Depression has been identified as a leading cause of disability, and studies suggest that people who have experienced depression at a young age are more likely to have depression throughout their lives. This study aims to assess the prevalence and determinants of depression among adolescents in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh states of India which holds the majority of adolescents in the country.

Methods: We have utilized data from Understanding the Lives of Adolescents and Young Adults (UDAYA) survey which was conducted in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh among 10-19 years old in 2016. Descriptive statistics, Bivariate analysis and multinomial logistic regression analysis were used to fulfill the objective of this study.

Results: Prevalence of depression was found to be higher among married female adolescents 49.6% (aged 15-19 years) in comparison to unmarried males 36% (10-19 years) and female adolescents 42.4% (10-19 years). Among adolescent males who ever seriously consider attempting suicide was 8.44 times (RR: 8.44; CI: 4.5-15.81) more likely to have minimal to mild depression and 22.74 times (RR:22.72; CI:7.74-66.7) more likely to have moderate to severe depression. Also, Adolescent males who were substance users were 2.35 times (RR: 2.35; CI: 1.24-4.43) more likely to have moderate to severe depression. Adolescent unmarried females who were not currently attending school was 39% more likely (RR: 1.39; CI: 1.06-1.83) to have moderate to severe depression; whereas adolescent unmarried females who ever attempt suicide was 42.21 times (RR: 42.21; CI: 26.39-67.51) more likely to have moderate to severe depression. For married adolescent females having premarital relationship (RR: 1.78; CI: 1.25-2.54), substance use in family (RR: 1.85; CI: 1.28-2.67), faced physical violence (RR: 1.59; CI: 1.09-2.34), faced emotional violence (RR: 1.93; CI: 1.31-2.82), faced dowry related abuse (RR: 3.33; CI: 2.43-4.57) and ever attempted suicide (RR: 56.85; CI: 26.57-121.66) were significant predictors of facing moderate to severe depression.

Conclusion: Results highlight the need of targeting adolescents’ behavior and depressive symptoms especially in rural areas. Further, this study raises the prevalent issues such as violence, lack of freedom, suicidal ideation which adversely impacts the mental health of adolescents and draws our attention towards the urgent need of addressed.