Symptoms of depression in a Canadian urban sample

The prevalence and correlates of symptoms of depression in a Canadian urban sample were examined. A random sample of 524 respondents completed the CES-D scale and a variety of sociodemographic questions. In this Sample, 15% of the males and 19% of the females had scores above the depression cut-point of 16 on the CES-D scale. These rates were very similar to results reported in various U.S. centres. Symptoms of depression were most common among the younger, less educated, and those employed in trades and farming. Depression was lowest in the older, more educated, the married and those employed in professional and management roles. Taken as a whole the set of sociodemographic predictors explained 11% of the variance in symptoms of depression.