Title : Factors associated with depressive symptoms in adults in the Dominican Republic during 2024

Background: Depression is a common and disabling mental disorder that interferes with daily activities, including work, sleep, eating, and social interaction. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it affects approximately 5% of adults worldwide. Previous studies have identified female sex, family history, and adverse childhood experiences as predisposing factors. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with the presence of depressive symptoms in adults residing in Santiago and the National District, Dominican Republic, during 2024.

Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted using data from the 2024 Provincial Health Survey, carried out by the Ministry of Public Health and the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra. The study population included adults residing in Santiago and the National District. Sociodemographic variables and self-reported clinical conditions were assessed as potential determinants of depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were detected using the CESD-7 Scale, applying a cutoff score of =9. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS version 19, using the chi-square test with a 5% significance level.

Results: Data from 658 adults (340 from Santiago and 318 from the National District) were analyzed. Of the participants, 69.5% were women and 35.4% were between 45 and 64 years old. The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms was 10.8%, with no statistically significant differences between provinces (p=0.405). Factors significantly associated with depressive symptoms included: female sex (12.5%, p=0.030), self-perception of fair or poor health (18.8% and 36.8%, p<0.001), worsening of health status in the past year (22.5%, p<0.001), severe or extreme functional limitations (26.1% and 30.8%, p<0.001), low self-esteem (30.8%, p=0.042), life dissatisfaction (36.4%, p<0.001), sleep disorders (36.4%, p<0.001), and kidney disease (26.3%, p=0.002).

Conclusion: The presence of depressive symptoms in the adult population studied was significantly associated with clinical, functional, and psychosocial vulnerability factors. These findings highlight the need to strengthen mental health interventions at the primary care level, integrating the assessment of chronic conditions, perceived well-being, and functionality, to enable a more effective and timely response to depression.

Dr. Nelson Martínez, MD, MSc, is a physician with a Master’s degree in Biomedical Research. He serves as Director of Health Research at the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance of the Dominican Republic and as Academic Coordinator of Medical Research at the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM). His research focuses on epidemiology, biostatistics, evidence-based medicine, and health research methodology. He is a certified health sciences researcher and member of the National Researcher Career (MESCYT), a member of the American Public Health Association (APHA), and the national representative to the Technical Commission for Health Research in Central America and the Dominican Republic (CTIS) and the Ibero-American Ministerial Network for Learning and Health Research (RIMAIS).