Exploring socio-behavioural correlates of depression and insomnia among college students in Cuttack, Odisha

Depression and insomnia are more common mental health challenges for young adults, with an impact on academic performance and general health. However, there have been few studies on the interplay of socio-behavioural factors in college students in Eastern India. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and insomnia and assess their relationship to socio-demographic and lifestyle factors among college students in Cuttack, Odisha. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from August to October 2024 among 432 students recruited through multistage sampling. The CES-D, Athens Insomnia Scale, and IPAQ-SF were used to measure depressive symptoms, insomnia, and physical activity, respectively. The data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. The prevalence of depressive symptoms (CES-D score ≥ 16) was 67.2%, while insomnia (35.8%) was significantly associated with very modest physical activity (AOR: 1.86, 95% CI 1.18–2.91) and depressive symptoms (AOR: 2.14, 95% CI 1.36–3.32). Academic pressure was also strongly associated with depressive symptoms (AOR: 3.09, 95% CI 1.49–6.33). A non-vegetarian diet was associated with lower odds of depressive symptoms (AOR: 0.47, 95% CI 0.27–0.77), and sharing problems with friends was associated with lower rates of depressive symptoms (AOR: 0.55, 95% CI 0.34–0.85). As a whole, the findings show a high prevalence of depressive symptoms and insomnia among college students. These findings highlight a need for institutional mental health support, access to counselling, regular physical activity, academic stress management, and enhanced emotional support to support students’ health.