Unveiling the characteristics of depression symptoms in Indonesia population: Lessons learned from the 5th wave of the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS-5).

Indonesia faces a substantial burden of depression, yet population-level evidence on symptom heterogeneity is limited. This study aimed to explore the latent structure of depressive symptoms in the Indonesian population using data from the 5th wave of the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS-5). Latent class analysis revealed three groups: severe risk (16.8 %), moderate risk (36.9 %), and low risk (46.3 %). Age, sex, and marital status predicted the latent class of older, married individuals and women who may fall into higher-risk categories. Despite increased symptom burden, all groups reported high levels of hope and happiness, indicating culturally influenced emotional expression formed by collectivism and religiosity. Cognitive symptoms such as feeling overwhelmed and concentration difficulties emerged as early indicators of depressive symptoms. The findings emphasize heterogeneity in symptom profiles and the need for culturally adapted screening and targeted interventions in Indonesia.