1Student of Masters of Hospital Administration, Uttaranchal College of Health Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Email: dillonzivai@gmail.com
ORCID ID: 0009-0003-7419-7045
2Student of Masters of Public Health, Uttaranchal College of Health Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Email: ankushbarthwal8@gmail.com
ORCID ID: 0009-0003-5588-6646
3Assistant Professor, Uttaranchal College of Health Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, India
Email: shivshankartiwari@gmail.com
ORCID ID: 0009-0006-4248-3487
4Student of Masters of Public Health, Uttaranchal College of Health Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Email: Salonayyy2003@gmail.com
ORCID ID: 0009-0004-0267-5391
5Student of Masters of Hospital Administration, Uttaranchal College of Health Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Email: raltezonunpari1@gmail.com
ORCID ID: 0009-0009-3320-9699
6Student of Masters of Hospital Administration, Uttaranchal College of Health Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Email: vneha4762@gmail.com
ORCID ID: 0009-0005-4768-9065
7Student of Masters of Hospital Administration, Uttaranchal College of Health Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Email: dikshachetry5@gmail.com
ORCID ID: 0009-0000-4822-4458
Background: Rapid urbanization in India has precipitated a transition in disease burden, with common mental disorders (CMDs) like depression and anxiety emerging as significant public health challenges. While quantitative studies have estimated prevalence, there is a paucity of mixed-methods research exploring the nuanced socio-cultural determinants of these disorders in the complex urban Indian context.
Methods: This study employed an Explanatory Sequential Mixed-Methods Design. Phase I involved a cross-sectional survey of 1,200 adults across three metropolitan cities (Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore) using the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 instruments. Phase II involved 30 In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) and 5 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) to explore the lived experiences and determinants of distress.
Results: The prevalence of depression and anxiety was found to be 15.2% and 12.8%, respectively, with comorbidity at 8.4%. Significant determinants included female gender (AOR: 1.8), financial instability (AOR: 2.1), and migration status (AOR: 1.6). Qualitative analysis revealed three core themes: "The Urban Paradox of Isolation," "Economic Precarity and Performance Pressure," and "Stigma as a Barrier to Care."
Conclusion: The high burden of CMDs in urban India is driven by a unique interplay of structural urban stressors and shifting social dynamics. Interventions must move beyond clinical treatment to address upstream urban determinants.
Keywords: Depression, Anxiety, Urban India, Mixed-Methods, Social Determinants, Public Health.
How to cite this article: Chikocho D, Barthwal A, Tiwari S, Saloni, Ralte Z, Neha, Chetry D, Assessing the Prevalence and Determinants of Depression and Anxiety Disorders among Adults in Urban India: A Mixed-Methods Study. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(6s): 442-446; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.6s.45
Source of support: Nil
Conflict of interest: None