Depression Severity and Its Predictors: Findings from a Nationally Representative Canadian Sample

Abstract

Depression is a major global health issue that significantly contributes to the burden of disease. Despite the wealth of existing research on depression, several key aspects remain underexplored, including factors that predict the onset, severity, and recurrence of depressive symptoms. The purpose of the current study was to assess the sociodemographic correlates and risk and protective factors of depression using a representative sample of the Canadian population. The data were drawn from the 2017–2018 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), a cross-sectional survey with a sample size greater than 113,000. Results from regression analyses identified sleep quality, social support, and perceived life satisfaction as protective factors for depression severity, while a current, self-reported diagnosis of an anxiety- or mood-related disorder was identified as a risk factor. Being younger emerged as the only pertinent sociodemographic risk factor for depression. Contrary to expectations, vigorous physical activity and sedentary behaviour did not significantly predict depression severity. Taken together, the results underscore the importance of identifying modifiable risk and protective factors to inform population-level mental health strategies (e.g., campaigns seeking to raise awareness regarding the importance of sleep, social support) to guide the development of targeted, evidence-based interventions.