Depression among married individuals: new evidence in Türkiye

Common mental disorders (CMDs) are frequently referred to as the "hidden epidemic" of the twenty-first century, even though mental health is widely acknowledged as a fundamental human right on a global scale. Mood, cognition, and behaviour disorders that impact a person's physical, psychological, and social well-being define CMDs. In addition to directly harming individuals, CMDs have a significant influence on families, society, and the country as a whole. This study focuses exclusively on married individuals and aims to examine how their experiences of depression are associated with demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.

The Turkish Statistical Institute's (TurkStat) 2022 Türkiye Health Survey microdata set, which included information on 15,049 married people aged 15 and above, was used in this study. The chi-square test of independence was used to investigate the connection between the independent factors and the experience of depression. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the elements influencing married people's experiences with depression.

According to the results of the binary logistic regression analysis, it was determined that the variables of gender, age, education level, general health status, employment status, disease, alcohol use, tobacco use, social security status, history of heart attack, and experience of diabetes were associated with the experience of depression.

Marriage and family bonds are essential and vital social frameworks for every society. The family is a crucial social setting for children's, teens', and adults' health. Therefore, improving the family environment will be beneficial not only for individuals but also for the entire society. According to the study, social policies are needed to improve the family environment. Psychosocial counselling should be provided to individuals starting from the pre-marital period. Family therapy and counselling services should be more accessible for married individuals.