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

Author

Listed:
  • Won-Tae Cha

    (Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul 03772, Korea
    Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul 03772, Korea
    Chief Operating Officer (COO), CHA Health Systems, Inc., Los Angeles, CA 90010, USA)

  • Hye-Jin Joo

    (Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul 03772, Korea
    Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul 03772, Korea)

  • Yu-Shin Park

    (Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul 03772, Korea
    Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul 03772, Korea)

  • Eun-Cheol Park

    (Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul 03772, Korea
    Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul 03772, Korea
    Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03772, Korea)

  • Soo-Young Kim

    (Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul 03772, Korea
    Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul 03772, Korea)

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]).

Suggested Citation

  • Won-Tae Cha & Hye-Jin Joo & Yu-Shin Park & Eun-Cheol Park & Soo-Young Kim, 2022. "Depression before and during-COVID-19 by Gender in the Korean Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-12, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:6:p:3477-:d:771705
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Minah Park & Fatima Nari & Soo Hyun Kang & Sung-In Jang & Eun-Cheol Park, 2021. "Association between Living with Patients with Dementia and Family Caregivers’ Depressive Symptoms—Living with Dementia Patients and Family Caregivers’ Depressive Symptoms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-11, April.
    2. Abel Brodeur & Idaliya Grigoryeva & Lamis Kattan, 2021. "Stay-at-home orders, social distancing, and trust," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 34(4), pages 1321-1354, October.
    3. Kerri Smith, 2014. "Mental health: A world of depression," Nature, Nature, vol. 515(7526), pages 180-181, November.
    4. Hye Jin Yoo & JaeLan Shim & Namhee Kim, 2021. "Life-Changing Experiences of Mothers with School-Age Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Focusing on Their Health Risk Perceptions and Health-Related Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-13, April.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Byungha Lee & Jung Su Hong, 2022. "Short- and Long-Term Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Suicide-Related Mental Health in Korean Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-12, September.
    3. Cunwei Yang & Weiqing Wang & Fengying Li & Degang Yang, 2022. "One-Size-Fits-All Policies Are Unacceptable: A Sustainable Management and Decision-Making Model for Schools in the Post-COVID-19 Era," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-21, May.

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