Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among Garment Workers in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study

Garment workers are exposed to long working hours, high output demands, and limited social support that increase vulnerability to psychological distress. However, their mental health conditions remain underexplored in Bangladesh. This study aimed to estimate the rates of depression, anxiety, and stress among Bangladeshi garment workers and sociodemographic and occupational factors associated with these outcomes.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Savar, Bangladesh, between March 2023 and December 2025. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire from 281 adult garment workers. Psychological distress was assessed using the Bangla version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyzes were performed to identify factors associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported, and a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Overall, 58.7% of participants reported depressive symptoms, 73.6% reported anxiety symptoms, and 19.9% reported stress. Female workers had higher rates than males for all three outcomes. In multivariate analyzes, female sex was independently associated with higher odds of depression (AOR = 2.98) and anxiety (AOR = 2.90). Older age, longer duration of work, and higher monthly income were significantly associated with depression and anxiety. Stress was independently associated with older age, longer job tenure, substance abuse (AOR = 3.03), and higher income.

Depression, anxiety, and stress are highly prevalent among garment workers in Bangladesh, with women and older, long-tenured workers disproportionately affected. The findings highlight the urgent need for workplace-based mental health screening, gender-sensitive interventions, stigma reduction, and accessible psychosocial support services to improve worker well-being and productivity.