Role of Social Support in the Relationship between Sexually Transmitted Infection and Depression among Young Women in Canada

Background

Individuals with a self-reported history of sexually transmitted infection (STI) are at high risk for depression. However, little is known about how social support affects the association between STI and depression among young women in Canada.

Methods

Data were drawn from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), conducted in 2005. A total of 2636 women aged 15–24 years who provided information on STI history were included in the analysis. Depression was measured by a depression scale based on the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short-Form (CIDI-SF). The 19-item Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Social Support Survey assessed functional social support. A log-binomial model was used to estimate the prevalence ratio (PR) for self-reported STI history associated with depression and to assess the impact of social support on the association.

Results

The adjusted PR for self-reported STI history associated with depression was 1.61 (95% CI, 1.03 to 2.37), before social support was included in the model. The association between STI history and depression was no longer significant when social support was included in the model (adjusted PR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.84). The adjusted PRs for depression among those with low and intermediate levels of social support versus those with a high level of social support were 5.62 (95% CI, 3.50 to 9.56) and 2.19 (1.38 to 3.68), respectively.

Conclusions

Social support is an important determinant of depression and reduces the impact of self-reported STI on depression among young women in Canada.Key words: depression, sexually transmitted infection, social support, young women