Gender Differences in Factors Associated with Depressive Symptoms among Couples in Kumasi, Ghana

Stephanie R. Psaki, Population Council
Denis Yar, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Easmon Otupiri, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Michelle J. Hindin, Johns Hopkins University

Depression is an important public health issue in low-income settings in terms of disease burden and gender disparities. Using couples data from the Family Health and Wealth Study in Kumasi, Ghana, we conducted a series of Tobit regression models to identify factors associated with depressive symptoms. The following characteristics were associated with more depressive symptoms for men: lower relative socioeconomic status, higher education difference with his partner, more biological children, higher commitment, higher trust, lower communication, higher partner’s depressive symptom score and lower partner’s trust. The following characteristics were associated with more depressive symptoms for women: being Christian vs. Muslim, poorer self-rated health, and higher partner’s CES-D score. In the final combined model, there were significant interactions between sex and relative SES, and sex and self-rated health. These findings provide evidence of gender differences in factors associated with depressive symptoms, and indicate directions for future research and interventions.