Factors associated with major depression in Salvadoran adolescents

Abstract

Introduction. Depression is one of the leading causes of disability and affects 350 million people worldwide. The 2022 National Mental Health Survey revealed that four out of ten Salvadoran adolescents show symptoms of major depressive disorder. Objective.  Analyze the factors associated with the presence of major depression in adolescents in El Salvador. Methodology. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted using data from the 2022 ENSM. The major depression variable was analyzed using two models: binomial logistic regression and random forests, in sets of 80 % training and 20 % testing. Results. A total of 1,209 adolescents were studied, of whom 26,9 % had symptoms of major depression, came from to the eastern health region. The highest risk proportion was identified in males (64,4 %). The main associated factors were behavioral problems (OR: 2,220; p < 0,05), low expression in intrafamilial relationships (OR: 2,124; p < 0,05), as well as the presence of post-traumatic stress at home (OR: 2,910; p < 0,05), level of COVID-related stress (OR: 2,455; p < 0,05), and low resilience in adults (OR: 2,165; p < 0,05).

Conclusions. Major depression in adolescents is determined by complex interactions. A higher prevalence was observed in males, in people from rural areas, and in people from the eastern health region. It was associated with stress disorder.