Risk factors and prevalence of adolescent depression in Yerevan, Armenia (A Cross-Sectional Study)

Abstract

Background: Major Depression is a widespread and serious mental health illness. In 2012, 350 million people suffer from depression worldwide. Adolescents have the highest risk of depression. In this age range, 20% have some type of mental disorder and the most common one is depression. In 2012, a survey conducted by the Arabkir medical center in Armenia using a proxy measure of depression found 26% of adolescents with depression. Objectives: The aim of this study was to measure the prevalence and explore risk factors for depression among adolescents 14-17 years-of-age in Yerevan. Methods: A cross-sectional survey among 14-17 years old adolescents living and studying in high schools in Yerevan was conducted using two-stage cluster sampling of high schools. Basic descriptive statistics were conducted. Simple and multiple logistic regression analyses were carried out to test associations of potential risk factors with depression, while controlling for potential confounding. Results: The final sample included 713 students. The prevalence rate of probable depression in the study population was 16.7%, 6.2% for boys and 21.6% for girls. After adjusting for confounders, the study identified potential risk factors associated with the development of depression, including female gender (OR 3.191; p=0.000), parents being divorced or separated (OR 2.808; p=0.008), having widowed parent (OR 2.544; p=0.038), negative change in parents' financial situation (OR 2.423; p=0.000), having trouble with classmates (OR 2.707; p=0.000), being dissatisfied with housing conditions (OR 3.352; p=0.024) and a protective association for having high self-esteem (OR 0.826; p=0.000). Conclusion: This is the first study conducted in Armenia that explored risk factors and prevalence of depression among adolescents. Further research is needed to replicate and expand the findings of this study in the entire Armenian adolescents’ population.