Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Adolescent Students in Daegu, Korea

Abstract

Background In February 2020, as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread rapidly in Daegu, South Korea, students in that region experienced many emotional difficulties. In this study, we analyzed the stress and emotional crisis experienced by students during the COVID-19 pandemic, its causative factors, and the factors that affect negative emotions. Methods We identified the demographic information related to the experiences of unbearable stress and emotional crisis and their causal factors at three points in time: before the pandemic, during its peak, and at the time of the survey (2–3 months after the peak). In addition, we analyzed the factors related to depression and anxiety experienced by students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Korean version of the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 and the Korean version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 was used to assess for depressive and anxiety symptoms in the subject students, respectively. Results A total of 8,177 students participated in the analysis, with 4,072 boys (49.8%), 4,105 girls (50.2%), and 4,463 middle school students (54.6%) and 3,177 high school students (45.4%). The percentage of students who experienced unbearable stress was 9% before the COVID-19 pandemic, increased to 16% at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, then decreased to 12.7% at the time of the survey. Stress was experienced more by girls (18.1% versus 13.8% in boys; χ 2 = 28.159, P < 0.001) and high school students (19.0% versus 13.5% in middle school students; χ 2 = 45.437, P < 0.001). Overall, 7.6% experienced emotional crises during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was more prevalent in girls (10.1% versus 5.2% in boys; χ 2 = 71.025, P < 0.001) and in high school students (8.8% versus 6.7% in middle school students; χ 2 = 12.996, P < 0.001). Depression and anxiety was seen in 19.8% and 12.3% of students during the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. The risk factors for depression and anxiety included unbearable stress before the COVID-19 pandemic ( P < 0.001), mental health ( P = 0.044), and age ( P = 0.040), whereas resilience was identified as a protective factor for depression and anxiety ( P = 0.001). Conclusion Students in Daegu experienced lots of mental difficulties since the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be necessary to improve stress management and resilience to improve students' mental health in disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Focus on High School: Factors Associated with Creating Harmony between the Educational Transition and Adolescents’ Well-Being

“…In this study, 13.5% of students reported being always in a negative mood during online classes, which is consistent with other studies on adverse mental health among Asian adolescents that reported percentages between 7.1% and 17% [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Adolescence, the transition between childhood and adulthood, was vulnerable to mental-health issues during the pandemic disruption due to maturity and physical, emotional, personality, and social development changes.…”

Factors Related to Anxiety and Depression Among Adolescents During COVID-19: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

“…In a study conducted in Daegu Metropolitan City in South Korea, where the number of confirmed cases was high early in the pandemic, the prevalence rates of anxiety and depression in adolescents were 12.3% and 19.8%, respectively, which are higher than those in the present study. 22 In addition, studies conducted at the height of the epidemic in China reported depression prevalence estimates ranging from 19% to 46%. A national survey reported that 25.5% of South Korean adolescents were depressed, as based on a single question: “Has your life been disrupted by depression for 2 weeks or more in the past 12 months?” In contrast, the present study used a dedicated depression scale to measure the prevalence of moderate-to-severe depression; the use of this more specific measure of depression may account for the difference between the two studies.…”

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

“…This result is consistent with many local South Korean studies. Jimhee's survey showed that the prevalence of depression among the general population of Korea at the beginning of the pandemic was 19%( 43 ), Lee's study on adolescents in Daegu, South Korea, during the COVID-19 pandemic showed that 19.8% and 12.3% of students experienced depression and anxiety, respectively ( 44 ), Hoo's study of adults aged 20 to 49 in Chungnam Province, South Korea, during the COVID-19 pandemic found that 18.8% of participants had symptoms of depression ( 45 ). In Kim's study of 180 nurses during the pandemic, 30.6% had moderate or higher levels of depression ( 46 ).…”

“…Depression rates were fairly high for both student groups, since the Chinese international students in South Korea have a (45). In Kim's study of 180 nurses during the pandemic, 30.6% had moderate or higher levels of depression (46).…”