Health behaviors and depressive symptoms in Peruvian adults: A national survey analysis

Background: Health behaviors, such as inadequate fruit and vegetable intake, alcohol abuse, and smoking, can impact mental health. This study aimed to assess the association between these behaviors and depressive symptoms in Peruvian adults. Methods: We conducted a secondary data analysis of the 2019 Peruvian Demographic Health Survey (ENDES). The outcome was the presence of depressive symptoms using the PHQ-9, while exposure variables were inadequate fruit and vegetable intake, alcohol abuse, and smoking. Logistic regression models were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and their 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI). Results: A total of 30,449 individuals were analyzed. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 6.8 %. In the adjusted analysis, alcohol abuse (aOR: 1.88; 95 % CI: 1.36 – 2.61) and daily smoking (aOR: 2.69; 95 % CI: 1.69 – 4.30) were associated with higher odds of experiencing depressive symptoms. When stratifying by sex, we obtained similar results. Conclusion: Alcohol abuse and smoking were associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms in Peruvian adults. These findings support the promotion of healthy behaviors to improve mental health.