The Social Determinants of Depression through Structural Factors among Adolescents in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review

In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), adolescent depression is one of the leading mental health problems with serious implications. The development of effective intervention strategies requires not only an examination of its biological and psychological determinants but also a critical analysis of the social factors influencing its prevalence and pattern. Methods- Guided by Arksey and O'Malley's framework, this scoping review examined the social factors influencing adolescent depression. A total of 48 primary studies were included, identified through searches across five databases and manual searches. Results- This review identified structural factors such as gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and family structure as key risk factors for adolescent depression. In addition, stressors within the family, school, and neighborhood, including family conflict, harsh parenting, maltreatment, academic pressure, peer rejection, bullying, and exposure to neighborhood violence, were also found to contribute to depressive symptoms. In contrast, social support from family, peers, and teachers was identified as a significant protective factor. Conclusions- The review suggests that most existing studies rely on atomization which does not fully capture how structural factors contribute to cumulative stress by shaping the social settings of adolescents and leading to depressive symptoms. This review highlights critical gaps, particularly the under exploration of neighborhood influences and out-of-school adolescents as well. Key words- Adolescent depression, protective factors, risk factors, social determinants, stressors