Mental health inequalities in Türkiye: educational differences in depression risk

Abstract

This study aims to identify the socio-demographic and health-related factors associated with depression among individuals in Türkiye and to examine whether the pattern of factors associated with depression varies across educational groups. This study uses data from the 2022 Türkiye Health Survey conducted by the Turkish Statistical Institute. The sample consists of 22,742 individuals, including 13,070 with below-high school education and 9,672 with high school education or higher. Binary logistic regression models were applied to identify the factors associated with individuals’ likelihood of experiencing depression within the last 12 months according to educational level. Among individuals with lower educational attainment, female sex, older age, marital status, alcohol use, tobacco use, poorer self-rated general health, the presence of chronic disease, and a history of heart attack were significantly associated with depression. Among individuals with higher educational attainment, female sex, age, marital status, alcohol use, tobacco use, general health status, chronic disease, and limitations in daily activities due to health problems were significantly associated with depression. Policies aimed at improving mental health outcomes should focus on reducing socioeconomic disadvantages, improving access to mental health services, and implementing targeted interventions for high-risk groups. Understanding how the factors associated with depression vary across educational levels may contribute to more effective and equitable mental health strategies.