Prevalencia y factores asociados a la depresión en docentes de educación general básica superior y bachillerato de las unidades educativas de Saraguro. 2024 - 2025. Saraguro - Loja – Ecuador

Abstract

Background: teaching is a difficult and complex task that entails a series of pathological consequences for the human body. The presence of depressive symptoms in teachers is considerably high and is closely related to stress levels, which are caused by various factors, especially workload accumulation. Objectives: To characterize the prevalence and factors associated with depression in teachers of general basic, upper, and high school education at the Saraguro Schools. Methodology: An analytical, cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 108 teachers from three educational units. The Sources of Stress Scale for Teachers and the Beck Depression Inventory were administered. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. Frequencies and percentages were calculated, and the χ statistic was used to associate variables. Results: Teachers aged 40 years or older predominated (68.5%), with 52.8% being female. 56.5% were married, and 88% resided in urban areas. Depressive levels were found in 27.8%. Thirty-eight percent (38%) showed alarming levels of stress, and 2.8% reported severe levels. Stress was the only statistically significant risk factor (p=0.001). Conclusions: In the study population, stress is the main risk factor for depression, and it is higher among teachers over 40 years of age, living in urban areas, and with little experience. The remaining factors did not show a statistically significant relationship.