Prevalence and associated risk factors for depression, anxiety, insomnia, and loneliness among the geriatric population in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

🎖️ Top 10% JournalNov 19, 2025BMC psychiatry

How common depression, anxiety, insomnia, and loneliness are in older adults in Bangladesh and their related risk factors

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Abstract

The prevalence rates for , , , and among older adults in Bangladesh were 58%, 82%, 77%, and 9%, respectively.

Depression was reported as mild in 42% of participants, moderate in 13%, and severe in 3%.
Anxiety symptoms showed a prevalence of mild in 39%, moderate in 31%, and severe in 12%.
Insomnia was mild in 28% of participants, moderate in 38%, and severe in 11%.
Factors associated with higher rates of mental health issues included female sex, spousal separation, and unemployment.
Living alone, smoking, lack of exercise, and chronic health conditions were also linked to increased mental health symptoms.
There were significant correlations among the mental health issues assessed, suggesting they tend to co-occur.

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BACKGROUND: Bangladesh is currently going through a demographic shift, with a swift rise in the proportion of older individuals among the population. The increasing prevalence of mental health issues among older adults is placing heightened demands on community health services. This study aims to assess mental health symptoms of , , , and , along with their associated factors, among the geriatric population in Bangladesh.

METHODS: The current study collected data from several geographical regions in the Bangladesh through face-to-face cross-sectional surveys employing stratified random sampling techniques. A total of 1,607 older respondents initially participated in the survey, and 1,544 responses were entered into the final analysis after careful evaluation. A pre-structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and lifestyle factors of participants. We employed the PHQ-9, GAD-7, AIS-8, and UCLA-3 to assess symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and loneliness, respectively.

RESULTS: The prevalence rates for depression, anxiety, insomnia, and loneliness were estimated at 58% (mild: 42%, moderate: 13%, severe: 3%), 82% (mild: 39%, moderate: 31%, severe: 12%), 77% (mild: 28%, moderate: 38%, severe: 11%), and 9% (mild: 7%, moderate: 2%), respectively. In Bangladeshi geriatric population, the primary characteristics linked to depression, anxiety, insomnia, and loneliness include female sex, spousal separation or bereavement, unemployment or retirement, low to moderate economic status, and living without family, smoking habit, lack of regular physical exercise, assistance required for regular activities, involvement in social activities, and chronic disease or condition. The current investigation also revealed statistically significant correlations among the assessed mental health concerns, indicating a tendency to co-occur among older adults.

CONCLUSION: Mental health symptoms were highly prevalent and influenced by socio-demographic and lifestyle-related factors among the older population in Bangladesh. Context-specific associations underscore the need for culturally appropriate interventions addressing social and structural determinants in geriatric mental health care. The current findings possess practical ramifications for clinical psychology, psychotherapy, and associated policy deliberations.

Key numbers

58%

Prevalence

Among older adults in Bangladesh experiencing depressive symptoms.

82%

Prevalence

Among older adults in Bangladesh reporting symptoms.

77%

Prevalence

Among older adults in Bangladesh experiencing symptoms.

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Abstract

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