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Kim SW, Park IH, Kim M, Park AL, Jhon M, Kim JW, Kang HJ, Ryu S, Lee JY, Kim JM. Risk and protective factors of depression in the general population during the COVID-19 epidemic in Korea. BMC Psychiatry 2021; 21:445. [PMID: 34496823 PMCID: PMC8425318 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-021-03449-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The risk of depression has risen in the general population during the COVID-19 epidemic. This study was conducted to explore risk and protective factors associated with depression among the general population uninfected by COVID-19. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,500 representative South Korean citizens aged 19-65 years through an anonymous online survey. Depression was defined as a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score of 10 or higher. Other questionnaires included one measuring psycho-behavioural and social changes, and stress, due to COVID-19, a six-item version of the Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ-6), and a three-item version of the UCLA loneliness scale. RESULTS Of the 1492 participants not infected by COVID-19, 312 (20.9%) exhibited depression. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that depression was positively associated with COVID-19-related stress and psycho-behavioural variables such as disturbances in eating and sleeping, younger age, smoking, underlying mental illness, and loneliness scale scores. In contrast, exercise three or more times per week and GQ-6 scale scores were inversely associated with depression. CONCLUSION During the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining daily routines including eating, sleeping, and regular exercise and focusing on gratitude may be important for the prevention of depression. In addition, more attention should be paid to vulnerable populations, including young people, those with mental illnesses, and smokers, who might be more susceptible to depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Wan Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, 42 Jebong-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea.
- Gwangju Mental Health Commission, Gwangju, Korea.
| | - In-Hoo Park
- Gwangju Mental Health Commission, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Mina Kim
- Gwangju Mental Health Commission, Gwangju, Korea
| | - A-La Park
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom
| | - Min Jhon
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, 42 Jebong-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju-Wan Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, 42 Jebong-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Ju Kang
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, 42 Jebong-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea
| | - Seunghyong Ryu
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, 42 Jebong-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju-Yeon Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, 42 Jebong-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea
- Gwangju Mental Health Commission, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Jae-Min Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, 42 Jebong-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea.
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