Socioeconomic disparities in the prevalence of depression and anxiety, and their associations with diabetes in rural southwest China

Abstract Background This study examines how the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms differ by socioeconomic status and explores their associations with diabetes in rural southwest China. Methods Data were collected from a cross-sectional health interview and examination survey of 5,005 adults aged ≥ 35 years in rural southwest China. Height, weight, waist circumference, and fasting blood glucose measurement were taken. Depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed using Zung’s Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), respectively. An individual socioeconomic position (SEP) index was constructed using principal component analysis. Results The overall prevalence of depression, anxiety, comorbid depression and anxiety symptoms, and diabetes was 5.4%, 12.8%, 4.0%, and 9.6%, respectively. Females had higher prevalence of depression (7.3% vs. 3.4%, P