Experiencing moderate or high levels of life events was significantly associated with depression and anxiety among adults in Java, Indonesia, with these associations moderated by education, asset ownership, and rural-urban residence.
The prevalence of depressive symptoms in the study population was 4.4% and anxiety was 8.5%.
Experiencing moderate levels of life events was significantly associated with increased odds of depression compared to low life event exposure.
Experiencing high levels of life events was associated with substantially increased odds of depression.
Experiencing moderate levels of life events was significantly associated with increased odds of anxiety.
Experiencing high levels of life events was associated with substantially increased odds of anxiety.
The associations between life events and mental health outcomes were moderated by socioeconomic factors including education, asset ownership, and rural-urban residence.
The study population was drawn from a large cross-sectional baseline survey in Java, Indonesia, covering adults across diverse socioeconomic and geographic contexts.
The authors recommend that mental health interventions prioritize mental health literacy and access to care in rural and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.
This research suggests that stressful life events — such as losing a job, experiencing illness, or bereavement — are strongly linked to depression and anxiety among adults in Java, Indonesia. Using data from nearly 20,000 adults, the study found that people who experienced moderate levels of stressful life events in the past year were about three times more likely to show signs of depression and nearly three times more likely to show signs of anxiety, compared to those with low stress exposure. For those with high levels of stressful life events, the odds of depression were more than ten times higher and anxiety more than six times higher. The research also found that not everyone is equally affected by these stressful life events. People with lower levels of education, fewer household assets (a measure of wealth), and those living in rural areas were at greater risk of depression and anxiety when exposed to the same life stressors as wealthier, more educated, or urban-dwelling individuals. This suggests that socioeconomic resources and geographic location may serve as protective factors — or their absence may make people more vulnerable to mental health problems during difficult life experiences. This research matters because Indonesia is facing a growing burden of depression and anxiety, yet mental health services and awareness remain limited, particularly in rural and poorer communities. The findings highlight the importance of making mental health support more accessible and improving mental health literacy (understanding and awareness) especially for those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged or living in rural areas, as these groups may have fewer resources to cope with life's stressors.
Idaiani S, Fajri M, Irmansyah I, Gibson J, Wilkinson J, Susanti H, et al.. (2026). The association between life events and mental health among adults in Java, Indonesia: Investigating the moderating effects by education, asset index, and rural-urban area of residence.. PloS one. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0348726