• Álvaro Jiménez-Molina, Pablo Reyes, and Graciela Rojas.
• Núcleo Milenio para Mejorar la Salud Mental de Adolescentes, Santiago, Chile.
• Rev Med Chil. 2021 Apr 1; 149 (4): 533-542.

BackgroundThere are marked differences associated with socio-economic factors in the prevalence of depressive symptoms (DS) in men and women.AimTo estimate the association between socioeconomic status and DS in Chile and to estimate the gender gaps in this association.Material And MethodsThe Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was applied as part of a socioeconomic survey carried out in a representative community sample (n = 2913). Using this information, we analyzed the influence of social status (education level, occupation, household income) and other psychosocial factors (gender, perceived social support, stressful life events) on DS.ResultsThe prevalence of DS was 23.2% in women and 13.4% in men. A socioeconomic gradient was found in the distribution of DS. This gradient was more pronounced for women than for men. Gender, social support and stressful life events were the most important predictors of severe DS, with an estimated risk twice as high among women and almost three times as high among those with low social support.ConclusionsThere is a combined effect between socio-economic and gender inequalities on DS. This partially explains the greater vulnerability of poor women and the DS gap between men and women.

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