LAUSR

ABSTRACT Depression is a common mental disorder. The purpose of this study was to survey the direct and indirect effects of associated factors with major depression (MD) among the population aged 18 years and older of the NHANES 2013–2014. The study was based on a sample of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, including 5393 people. To detect MD, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used. Path analysis with Mplus software was used to perform analyses. The prevalence of MD was 6.9% in men and 12.4% in women. The final model was fitted well with sample data (p = 0.00; RMSEA = 0.05; CFI = 0.89; TLI = 0.77; WRMR = 1.93 in men and p = 0.00; RMSEA = 0.05; CFI = 0.92; TLI = 0.86; WRMR = 2.03 in women). Income, body mass index, chronic diseases and sleep disorder in both men and women and HDL cholesterol and drug use only in women have a direct effect on MD. Income, body mass index, smoking, and chronic diseases have an indirect effect on MD. Sleep disorder has the greatest total effect on MD. It is necessary to pay attention to these effective factors in control of major depression.