Correlates of depressive and anxiety disorders among young Canadians

The current study presents data on the prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders in the Canadian population aged between 15 and 24 years and examines their potential correlates.

The study is based on the 2002 Canadian Community Health Survey: Mental Health and Well-Being (CCHS 1.2). This survey was administered to a representative sample of 36,984 Canadians. A subsample of 5673 Canadians aged between 15 and 24 years was available for the analyses. We used descriptive analyses to calculate lifetime and 12-month prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders, and we used logistic regressions to measure odds ratios.

Among Canadian youths, 10.2% had suffered from depressive disorders during their lifetime, whereas 12.1% had suffered from anxiety disorders. For 12-month prevalence, the rates were 6.4% and 6.5% for depressive and anxiety disorders, respectively. Depressive disorders were more frequent among youth aged 20 to 24 years and among those no longer in school. Both disorders were more common among women and people under extreme stress.

The prevalence rates found are comparable with other studies, and most of the correlates are concordant with the literature. Results indicate that there is a turning point for depression between late adolescence and adulthood that could be crucial for intervention planning.