Assessing the associated factors of anxiety and depression among the adult population to harness the demographic dividend in Nepal using the socio-ecological model.
4 affiliations
- 1Research Centre for Educational Innovation and Development (CERID), Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal.
- 2Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal.
- 3Central Department of Population Studies, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal.
- 4Tribhuvan University, Prithvi Narayan Campus, Pokhara, Nepal. [email protected].
Abstract
Introduction
Anxiety and depression are major global public health concerns and a growing mental health burden among working-age adults, potentially hindering low- and middle-income countries from realizing the demographic dividend. This study aims to examine associated factors with anxiety and depression among adults using a socio-ecological model.Methods
This study used secondary data from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) 2022 of Nepal among adults aged 15-49 years. Anxiety and depression were measured using GAD-7 and PHQ-9 and categorized as binary outcomes. Multivariable binary logistic regression was performed using complex sample analysis, accounting for stratification, clustering, and sampling weights to identify associated factors.Results
The prevalence of anxiety and depression was higher among women (21.9% and 21.1%, respectively) than among men (11.3% and 11.1%, respectively). Among women, higher odds of anxiety and depression were observed among widowed/divorced/separated (AOR = 1.813 for anxiety;1.850 for depression), smokers (AOR = 1.615;1.528), those in the poorer wealth group (AOR = 2.033;1.848), and residents of Karnali province (AOR = 1.831;1.667) compared to their respective reference groups. Similarly, among men, higher odds were found among widowed/divorced/separated (AOR = 3.980;2.844), smokers (AOR = 1.583;1.354), those in the poorer wealth group (AOR = 2.094;2.280), and residents of Karnali province (AOR = 4.190;6.079), compared to their respective reference groups, respectively.Conclusions
Harnessing demographic dividend requires prioritizing mental health through a comprehensive multisectoral approach that addresses not only existing individual-level anxiety and depression but also underlying interpersonal, community and societal factors such as structural disparities, economic inequalities, and uneven development across regions through coordinated actions across health, education, employment, social protection, culture-sensitive, and region-specific responsive strategies.
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BibTeX
@article{thasineku2026assessing,
title = {{Assessing the associated factors of anxiety and depression among the adult population to harness the demographic dividend in Nepal using the socio-ecological model.}},
author = {Om Chandra Thasineku and Yogendra Bahadur Gurung and Dhanendra Veer Shakya and Sudesh Pandit},
journal = {Discover mental health},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1007/s44192-026-00556-8},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42897370},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Assessing the associated factors of anxiety and depression among the adult population to harness the demographic dividend in Nepal using the socio-ecological model.
AU - Om Chandra Thasineku
AU - Yogendra Bahadur Gurung
AU - Dhanendra Veer Shakya
AU - Sudesh Pandit
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Discover mental health
DO - 10.1007/s44192-026-00556-8
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42897370
AB - Introduction Anxiety and depression are major global public health concerns and a growing mental health burden among working-age adults, potentially hindering low- and middle-income countries from realizing the demographic dividend. This study aims to examine associated factors with anxiety and depression among adults using a socio-ecological model.Methods This study used secondary data from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) 2022 of Nepal among adults aged 15-49 years. Anxiety and depression were measured using GAD-7 and PHQ-9 and categorized as binary outcomes. Multivariable binary logistic regression was performed using complex sample analysis, accounting for stratification, clustering, and sampling weights to identify associated factors.Results The prevalence of anxiety and depression was higher among women (21.9% and 21.1%, respectively) than among men (11.3% and 11.1%, respectively). Among women, higher odds of anxiety and depression were observed among widowed/divorced/separated (AOR = 1.813 for anxiety;1.850 for depression), smokers (AOR = 1.615;1.528), those in the poorer wealth group (AOR = 2.033;1.848), and residents of Karnali province (AOR = 1.831;1.667) compared to their respective reference groups. Similarly, among men, higher odds were found among widowed/divorced/separated (AOR = 3.980;2.844), smokers (AOR = 1.583;1.354), those in the poorer wealth group (AOR = 2.094;2.280), and residents of Karnali province (AOR = 4.190;6.079), compared to their respective reference groups, respectively.Conclusions Harnessing demographic dividend requires prioritizing mental health through a comprehensive multisectoral approach that addresses not only existing individual-level anxiety and depression but also underlying interpersonal, community and societal factors such as structural disparities, economic inequalities, and uneven development across regions through coordinated actions across health, education, employment, social protection, culture-sensitive, and region-specific responsive strategies.
SN - 2731-4383
ER -