Prevalence of Depression and Coping Mechanisms: A Clinical Psychology Study among Women in Gaya District

Depression is one of the most prevalent psychological disorders affecting women across socio-cultural contexts, yet its recognition and management in rural and semi-urban regions of India remain inadequate. This study empirically examined the prevalence of depression and the coping mechanisms employed by women in Gaya district, Bihar. A sample of 114 women aged 18–60 years was selected using random sampling from both urban and rural blocks. Data were collected through the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Brief COPE Inventory, and semi-structured interviews. Results revealed that 42.1% of participants experienced moderate-to-severe depression, with 74.6% reporting moderate-to-high stress and 45.6% reporting poor sleep quality. Religious and spiritual coping emerged as the most common strategy, followed by problem-focused and emotion-focused coping, while avoidance coping was associated with higher depression scores. Structural and cultural barriers, such as cost, distance, stigma, and lack of awareness, were identified as key deterrents to professional help-seeking, with nearly half of the women reporting no treatment. The findings highlight the urgent need for community-based mental health interventions that address both structural accessibility and cultural attitudes towards depression, while integrating social support systems to strengthen women’s resilience.