Depression before and during-COVID-19 by Gender in the Korean Population

Abstract

This study explored the association between Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and depression by comparing Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) results pre-pandemic (2019) and after the start of the pandemic (2020). Data of 444,051 participants (200,206 male (45.1%); 243,845 female (54.9%)) were obtained from the Korean Community Health Survey conducted from 2019 to 2020. The independent variable of interest in this study was the year, divided into binary categories, 2019 and 2020. The dependent variable was depression, measured by the PHQ-9 scale. This dependent variable was also binary, dividing those who are considered depressed or not by a cut-off score of 10. A logistic regression model was employed to examine the association. Our results reveal that compared to participants in 2019, patients from the study sample of 2020 were marginally more likely to be depressed, especially female patients (male OR: 1.092, 95% CI [0.998 to 1.195], female OR: 1.066, 95% CI [1.002 to 1.134]). Moreover, using the participants from the year 2019 as a reference group, those who appeared anxious in response to the COVID-19-related questions in the survey showed more tendency to have a PHQ-9 score of 10 or more. Compared to participants from the 2019 group, those from 2020 more likely to be depressed were those with no-one to contact in case of emergency due to COVID-19 (male OR: 1.45, 95% CI [1.26 to 1.66], female OR: 1.46, 95% CI [1.33 to 1.60]), and individuals with concerns regarding economic loss (male OR: 1.18, 95% CI [1.07 to 1.30], female OR: 1.11, 95% CI [1.04 to 1.18]) and infection of a vulnerable family member at home due to COVID-19 (male OR: 1.16, 95% CI [1.05 to 1.28], female OR: 1.09, 95% CI [ 1.02 to 1.16]).

Assessing Knowledge, Preventive Practices, and Depression Among Chinese International Students and Local Korean Students in South Korea During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Online Cross-Sectional Study

“…For the local South Korean students in the sample, gender and education level were predictors of depression. This was consistent with the findings of Won, who found higher rates of depression among women in a South Korean community survey ( 49 ). Self-assessed physical health status was associated with depression among local South Korean students.…”

Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Quality of Life, Mental Health, and Level of Physical Activity in Colombian University Workers: A Longitudinal Study

“…In addition, we found that the period of compulsory isolation was significantly associated with the presence of depressive symptomatology, which is consistent with the findings of multiple investigations in different populations [ 63 , 64 ]. In the general population, during the first wave of COVID-19, deterioration in mental health was associated with several factors, including fear of infection and of infecting family members [ 65 ], as well as preoccupation associated with media information [ 66 , 67 ].…”

Short- and Long-Term Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Suicide-Related Mental Health in Korean Adolescents

“…Higher rates of the suicide-related variables were found among the more socioeconomically vulnerable population, as exemplified by the observed associations with younger age, being female, not residing with family, having a lower household SES, being unhealthy, and engaging in unhealthy behaviors such as having an irregular diet, inappropriate internet use, smoking, and consuming alcohol, as has been documented elsewhere [ 3 , 18 , 25 ]. However, unlike other countries, the present study found that adolescents with a high household SES and a high academic achievement would be more vulnerable to poor mental health by limited learning through online learning, as a result of their high academic enthusiasm [ 21 ].…”

“…In addition, the suicide rate of South Korean adolescents was the fourth-highest among the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, and it consistently increased through 2019 [ 2 ]. Following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was first reported at the end of 2019, quarantine policies, such as school closures, as part of the social distancing policies, commenced; in 2020 and 2021, these policies socially isolated adolescents and led them to worry about illness and the economic impacts on their families [ 3 , 4 ]. This has caused health workers to be concerned about mental health among adolescents, as a vulnerable population.…”