Korean J Fam Pract.  2022 Dec;12(5):354-360. 10.21215/kjfp.2022.12.5.354.

Factors Associated with Depressive Symptoms among Korean Adults during the COVID-19: Based on the 2019–2020 Korea Welfare Panel Study

• Ryu DH
• Kim HR
• Lee CW
• Lee J
• Jeong Yj
• Kim HS

• KMID: 2536831
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21215/kjfp.2022.12.5.354

Abstract

Background
This study aimed to analyze factors related to depressive symptoms among Korean adults during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic era.
Methods
Data from the Korea Welfare Panel Study 2019 and 2020 (15th KWPS) were used. Among subjects who had a Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score of <16 in the 14th Korea Welfare Panel Study (KWPS) (n=8,929), those with a CES-D score of <16 or ≥16 in the 15th KWPS were designated the non-depressed and depressed groups, respectively. The chi-squared test, the t-test, and a multiple logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the factors depicting depression in Korean adults during COVID-19 pandemic.
Results
Among the analyzed factors, female sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.54–2.56), never-married status (aOR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.24–2.37), divorced/separated/widowed status (aOR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.18–1.97), low income (aOR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.27–2.12), lower selfassessed health status (aOR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.07–2.18), and lower satisfaction with health (aOR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.00–1.46), family relationships (aOR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.16–1.65), and income (aOR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.01–1.36) were significantly associated with depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conclusion
The identification of risk factors influencing depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic could aid the development of effective public mental health strategies in the post-COVID-19 era.

Keyword

CES-D; Depression; Korea Welfare Panel Study; COVID-19; Mental Health