Time-Series Trends of Depressive Levels of Korean Adults During the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic in South Korea

Kim Seok-Joo,손선주,Choi Yun-Kyeung,Hyun Jinhee,Kim Heeguk,Lee Jong-Sun,Lee So Hee,Lee Yu-Ri,Paik Jong-Woo 대한신경정신의학회 2023 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.20 No.2

Objective This study aimed to observe the changes in people’s depressive levels over 9 months since the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak as well as to identify the predictors of people’s depressive levels including COVID-19 infection fear in the context of South Korea in 2020.Methods For these purposes, four cross-sectional surveys were periodically implemented from March to December 2020. We randomly recruited 6,142 Korean adults (aged 19 to 70) by using a quota survey. Along with descriptive analysis, which included a one-way analysis of variance and correlations, multiple regression models were built to identify the predictors of people’s depressive levels during the pandemic. Results Overall, people’s depressive levels and fear of COVID-19 infection gradually increased since the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition to demographic variables (i.e., being a female, young age, unemployed, and living alone) and the duration of the pandemic, people’s COVID-19 infection fear was associated with their depressive levels.Conclusion To ameliorate these rising mental health issues, access to mental health services should be secured and expanded, particularly for individuals who present greater vulnerabilities due to socioeconomic characteristics that may affect their mental health.

COVID-19 and Risk Factors of Anxiety and Depression in South Korea

Jinhee Hyun,Seokjoo Kim,Heeguk Kim,Yun-Jung Choi,Yun-Kyeung Choi,Yu-Ri Lee,Jong-Woo Paik,Jong-Sun Lee,Kihyun Kim,Jin Yong Jun,So Hee Lee,Sunju Sohn 대한신경정신의학회 2021 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.18 No.9

Objective The aims of this study were to explore the prevalence of and identify predictors of anxiety and depression related to coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) in South Korea.Methods The analysis is based on a quota survey design and a sampling frame that permitted recruitment of a national sample of 1,014 individuals between March 17–31, 2020. Several standardized measurements were used, including GAD-7, PHQ-9, COVID-19 related fear, restrictions in deaily life, as well as sociodemographic information and physical and psychosocial needs during the pandemic. Multiple logistic regression was conducted to analyze the influence of sociodemographic factors, fear, and physical/psychosocial needs on anxiety and depression.Results Significant numbers of the respondents were identifiable anxiety (19.0%) and depression group (17.5%), respectively. This indicates that the depression and anxiety prevalence rate after the COVID-19 is substantially high compared to the depression rate of 2.6% in 2020 and 2.8% in 2018 both reported in the Korea Community Health Survey and the anxiety rate of 5.7% reported in 2016 Survey of Mental Disorders in Korea. Multiple logistic regression results showed age, COVID-19 related fear, and the level of restrictions in daily as significant factors in understanding and predicting the anxiety group. Likfewise, the COVID-19 related fear, restrictions in daily life, and need for economic support were important predictors in predicting the depression group.Conclusion Findings on predictors for greater vulnerability to anxiety and depression has important implications for public mental health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Psychosocial Support during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Korea: Activities of Multidisciplinary Mental Health Professionals

현진희,You Sungeun,Sohn Sunju,Kim Seok-Joo,Bae Jeongyee,Baik Myungjae,Cho In Hee,Choi Hyunjung,Choi Kyeong-Sook,Chung Chan-Seung,Jeong Chanyoung,Joo Hyesun,Kim Eunji,Kim Heeguk,Kim Hyun Soo,Ko Jinsun,Lee 대한의학회 2020 Journal of Korean medical science Vol.35 No.22

As of April 18, 2020, there have been a total of 10,653 confirmed cases and 232 deaths due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Korea. The pathogen spread quickly, and the outbreak caused nationwide anxiety and shock. This study presented the anecdotal records that provided a detailed process of the multidisciplinary teamwork in mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak in the country. Psychosocial support is no less important than infection control during an epidemic, and collaboration and networking are at the core of disaster management. Thus, a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals was immediately established and has collaborated effectively with its internal and external stakeholders for psychosocial support during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Mental Health of Government Officials Participating in Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention Work - Focusing on Follow-up Study -

Jinhee Hyun,Heeguk Kim 위기관리 이론과 실천 2018 Crisisonomy Vol.14 No.4

본 연구는 구제역 방역에서 가축의 살처분과 매몰업무를 담당한 공무원의 정신건강과 시간의 경과 에 따른 정신건강의 변화를 확인하고자 하였다. 이를 위해 가축의 매몰과 살처분 업무를 담당하고 2011년 2월에 실시한 1차조사와 약 10개월 후에 실시한 추후조사 모두에 응답한 29명의 자료를 분석 하였다. 연구결과는 첫째, 외상후 스트레스장애 고위험군은 추후조사에서 17.2%로 나타났다. 외상후 스트레스 증상, 하위영역인 회피, 침습, 과각성 증상, 우울증상은 감소하였으나 통계적 유의성은 없었으며, 불안증상은 변화가 없었다. 둘째, 개인별 증상변화는 외상후 스트레스 증상, 불안증상이 증 가한 개인이 더 많은 것으로 나타났다. 이를 통해 구제역 가축의 살처분과 매몰을 담당한 공무원들이 추후조사에서도 여전히 높은 수준의 정신건강문제를 경험하고 있다는 것을 확인하였다. 연구결과에 근거하여 구제역 방역을 담당한 공무원의 정신건강에 대한 지속적 모니터링과 개입의 필요성을 제언하였다. This study aims to identify mental health conditions and their changes over time among government officials who were involved in the burial and disposal of livestock during the foot and mouth disease epidemics. The initial study was conducted in February 2011 and the follow-up study was conducted after 10 months. The data from 29 officials who voluntarily participated in both initial and follow-up study were analyzed, and 17.2% of the participants in the follow-up study were found to show a high risk of PTSD. The PTSD symptoms and its sub-domains such as avoidance, intrusion, hyper arousal symptoms, and depressive symptoms decreased but the reductions were not statistically significant. No change was found on anxiety either in the follow-up study. In particular, more individuals increased their PTSD and anxiety symptoms in the follow-up study. These results imply that the government officials who worked on the burial and disposal activities of livestock still had a high level of mental health problems. Based on the results of this study, the necessity of continuous monitoring and intervention was suggested to address mental health problems of government officials in Korea.

COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Job Loss Impacts on Mental Health in South Korea

Han Kyu-Man,Lee Sang Min,Hong Minha,Kim Seok-Joo,Sohn Sunju,Choi Yun-Kyeung,Hyun Jinhee,Kim Heeguk,Lee Jong-Sun,Lee So Hee,Lee Yu-Ri,Paik Jong-Woo 대한신경정신의학회 2023 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.20 No.8

Objective The economic hardship brought by the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-2019) pandemic has caused mental health problems among people of different socioeconomic status (SES). As social support helps to buffer these problems, we investigated the association between job loss related to COVID-19 and depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts; the differences in the effects according to SES; and the mediating effects of social support.Methods The effects of COVID-19-related job loss on depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts among 1,364 people were investigated through semi-structured and self-administered questionnaires: Patient Health Questionnaire–9, General Anxiety Disorder–7, and the Functional Social Support Questionnaire. Logistic regression and subgroup analyses were performed to assess the association between job loss and mental health status, and the moderating effects of income and educational levels. Moreover, the mediating effects of perceived social support on the association between job loss and depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts were analyzed.Results COVID-19-related job loss increased the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts. Adults with lower income and education level were at higher risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts; perceived social support level had significant mediating effects on the association between job loss and depression/anxiety; and income level had significant moderating effects on this mediating pathway.Conclusion COVID-19-related job loss were likely to be significantly associated with negative mental health outcomes, especially among individuals with low income and education levels. As social support had buffering effects on such outcomes, related government policies in cooperation with the governance of communities and stakeholders must be prepared.