Gender Disparity in Depressive Symptoms and Its Determinants Among Youth in Indonesia: Findings from IFLS-5 Data

Depression has been recognized as a serious health problem and one of the primary causes of disability and death, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Therefore, this study aims to assess the determinants of depressive symptoms among young Indonesians, focusing on gender differences by using an Indonesian Family Life Survey wave 5 (IFLS-5). A cross-sectional dataset from IFLS-5 was analysed, involving data from 6,522 youths. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine risk factors, including sociodemographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle and behavior factors, social participation, and health-related factors for depressive symptoms by gender. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of depressive symptoms between males (29.6%) and females (29.5%), but the associated factors differed by gender. Life dissatisfaction, self-reported unhealthy, and being unmarried increased the odds of depressive symptoms in both genders. However, in males, being a current smoker was a significant factor for depressive symptoms (OR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.19–1.79; p < 0.001), while unemployment was found to be a protective factor (OR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.64–0.98; p = 0.036). On the other hand, the most significant contributing factor for depressive symptoms among females was being a former smoker (OR:3.12; 95% CI: 1.05–9.26; p = 0.040), having more than two comorbidities (OR:1.55; 95% CI: 1.03–2.34; p = 0.034); one comorbidity (OR:1.28; 95% CI:1.06–1.54; p = 0.009), Notably, a low level of social participation was protective factor for females. Most factors influenced depressive symptoms in both genders. While the factor that influences depressive symptoms only among males was current smokers, and among females, it was former smokers and the presence of comorbidities. These findings highlight the need for gender-sensitive mental health intervention across genders, for example, smoking cessation for males and comorbidity management for females.