Prevalence and Psychosocial Correlates of Depression Among Female Secondary School Teachers in Ondo State

Depression among female teachers in Nigerian secondary schools represents a significant occupational mental health issue with consequences for both teacher well-being and the quality of student-teacher interactions. This study examined the prevalence and psychosocial correlates of depression among female secondary school teachers in Ondo State, South West Nigeria. A descriptive epidemiological design was used, with 450 female teachers selected from 25 secondary schools across four educational zones. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to assess depressive symptoms, alongside measures of occupational stress, social support, marital satisfaction, and workplace discrimination. Binary logistic regression was used to identify significant correlates. Findings revealed a depression prevalence rate of 28.4 percent using PHQ-9 cutoff criteria. Occupational stress, poor marital satisfaction, and low perceived social support were the strongest correlates of depression. Workplace gender discrimination was a significant independent predictor, with teachers who reported frequent discrimination demonstrating nearly three times the odds of clinically significant depression. Rural school placement was a significant contextual variable. The study recommends the incorporation of depression screening within routine teacher health assessments in Ondo State, training of school counsellors in mental health first aid, and advocacy for gender-equitable workplace policies across secondary schools. Keywords: depression, female teachers, psychosocial correlates, secondary school, Ondo State.