Prevalence and correlates of depression and psychological distress among garment factory employees in Hambantota district, Sri Lanka
Abstract Background Garment factory employees have been identified as a high-risk population for developing depression in Asian countries. Depression is recognised as a potentially reversible risk factor for low productivity in the garment factory workforce. Therefore, identification and treatment o...
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2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03137-6 |
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| author | Lasith Obadaarachchi Amila Isuru Suwin Hewage Manuja Vipuladasa Shehan S.Williams |
| author_facet | Lasith Obadaarachchi Amila Isuru Suwin Hewage Manuja Vipuladasa Shehan S.Williams |
| author_sort | Lasith Obadaarachchi |
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| description | Abstract Background Garment factory employees have been identified as a high-risk population for developing depression in Asian countries. Depression is recognised as a potentially reversible risk factor for low productivity in the garment factory workforce. Therefore, identification and treatment of depression in garment factory workers can improve productivity and their quality of life in general. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of depression in garment factory workers in the Hambantota district, Sri Lanka. Methods This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. The calculated sample size was 381, and a multistage random sampling method was used. Culturally validated General Health Questionnaire-12 and Beck Depression Inventory–II were used to screen for psychological morbidity and depression, respectively. Results The majority of 381 employees were females (n = 325, 83.3%). The mean age was 32.9 years (SD—10.45 years). The prevalence of depression in the study sample was 16.80% (95% CI: 13.04–20.55%). Depression was associated with the presence of a chronic medical condition (OR-3.51, 95% CI:1.61–7.67), family history of psychiatric illness (OR-3.03 95% CI-1.11 to 8.26), history of deliberate self-harm (OR-10.79 95% CI-4.68 to 24.89), history of psychiatric illness (OR-6.12, 95% CI-2.39-15.73), and being divorced or separated from their partner. The only job-related factor that correlates with depression was working extra duty hours (OR-1.74, CI 1.01–3.02). Conclusions The prevalence of depression among garment factory employees in Hambantota district is higher than the national average. However, it is relatively lower compared to garment factory populations in other developing Asian countries. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-43e150247d0f4037b3dbe016ac9e4097 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-43e150247d0f4037b3dbe016ac9e40972025-08-20T04:02:44ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-07-011311910.1186/s40359-025-03137-6Prevalence and correlates of depression and psychological distress among garment factory employees in Hambantota district, Sri LankaLasith Obadaarachchi0Amila Isuru1Suwin Hewage2Manuja Vipuladasa3Shehan S.Williams4District General Hospital ChilawFaculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri LankaIndependent researcher, 603/10A, Siri Parakum MawathaRegional Directorate of Health Services HambantotaFaculty of Medicine, University of KelaniyaAbstract Background Garment factory employees have been identified as a high-risk population for developing depression in Asian countries. Depression is recognised as a potentially reversible risk factor for low productivity in the garment factory workforce. Therefore, identification and treatment of depression in garment factory workers can improve productivity and their quality of life in general. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of depression in garment factory workers in the Hambantota district, Sri Lanka. Methods This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. The calculated sample size was 381, and a multistage random sampling method was used. Culturally validated General Health Questionnaire-12 and Beck Depression Inventory–II were used to screen for psychological morbidity and depression, respectively. Results The majority of 381 employees were females (n = 325, 83.3%). The mean age was 32.9 years (SD—10.45 years). The prevalence of depression in the study sample was 16.80% (95% CI: 13.04–20.55%). Depression was associated with the presence of a chronic medical condition (OR-3.51, 95% CI:1.61–7.67), family history of psychiatric illness (OR-3.03 95% CI-1.11 to 8.26), history of deliberate self-harm (OR-10.79 95% CI-4.68 to 24.89), history of psychiatric illness (OR-6.12, 95% CI-2.39-15.73), and being divorced or separated from their partner. The only job-related factor that correlates with depression was working extra duty hours (OR-1.74, CI 1.01–3.02). Conclusions The prevalence of depression among garment factory employees in Hambantota district is higher than the national average. However, it is relatively lower compared to garment factory populations in other developing Asian countries.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03137-6Garment industryDepressionCorrelatesPsychological morbidity |
| spellingShingle | Lasith Obadaarachchi Amila Isuru Suwin Hewage Manuja Vipuladasa Shehan S.Williams Prevalence and correlates of depression and psychological distress among garment factory employees in Hambantota district, Sri Lanka BMC Psychology Garment industry Depression Correlates Psychological morbidity |
| title | Prevalence and correlates of depression and psychological distress among garment factory employees in Hambantota district, Sri Lanka |
| title_full | Prevalence and correlates of depression and psychological distress among garment factory employees in Hambantota district, Sri Lanka |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and correlates of depression and psychological distress among garment factory employees in Hambantota district, Sri Lanka |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and correlates of depression and psychological distress among garment factory employees in Hambantota district, Sri Lanka |
| title_short | Prevalence and correlates of depression and psychological distress among garment factory employees in Hambantota district, Sri Lanka |
| title_sort | prevalence and correlates of depression and psychological distress among garment factory employees in hambantota district sri lanka |
| topic | Garment industry Depression Correlates Psychological morbidity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03137-6 |
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