A cross-sectional study of multidimensional psychosocial stress and depression risk

TL;DR

This study found that family, academic, and interpersonal stress are linked to higher depression risk, while higher BMI was unexpectedly linked to lower risk, though this needs further study.

Contribution

The study identifies specific psychosocial stress domains independently associated with depression risk and highlights a counterintuitive BMI-depression relationship.

Findings

Family stress, academic stress, and interpersonal stress were independently associated with higher odds of depression.

Higher BMI was associated with lower odds of depression, though this may be confounded by unmeasured factors.

Alcohol abstinence showed an extreme association with depression, but the result is based on a small subgroup.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the cross-sectional associations of multidimensional psychosocial stress and body mass index (BMI) with depression risk.

In this cross-sectional study, 222 participants (123 with depression, 99 controls) completed questionnaires assessing depression (BDI-II), six domains of psychosocial stress (family, work, financial, academic, interpersonal, emotional), BMI, and lifestyle factors. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine independent associations, with exploratory subgroup analyses by age and gender.

Multivariate analysis indicates that, family stress (OR = 3.47, 95% CI: 1.96–6.15), academic stress (OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.14–3.38), and interpersonal stress (OR = 2.34, 95% CI: 1.36–4.03) were independently associated with higher odds of depression. Higher BMI was associated with lower odds of depression (OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.85–0.96); however, this inverse association may be confounded by unmeasured factors such as antidepressant use and should be interpreted cautiously. An extreme association with alcohol abstinence (OR = 0.05) was based on a very small subgroup (n = 14) and requires cautious interpretation. Exploratory subgroup analyses suggested variations in these associations.

Specific psychosocial stressors are associated with depression risk in this sample. The counterintuitive finding regarding BMI warrants investigation in studies controlling for medication use. The subgroup findings are preliminary and require replication in larger cohorts.

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