Ecological Analysis of Food Behavior and Life-Styles Affecting the Prevalence of Depression in Korea

한국인의 우울상태에 따른 식행동, 영양 섭취 상태 및 생활습성에 관한 생태학적 분석

This study was carried out to analyze the effects of dietary and life-style factors on the prevalence of depression in Korea. Epidemiologic data from a nation-wide sample of 2,000 adults who were selected with the stratified random sampling method in Korea were interviewed by trained interviewers. Data were presented on the CES-D, a 20-items self-report depression symptom scale developed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies in U.S.A. The prevalence of depression among all the respondents was 13.5%, with 13.1% in urban samples and 15.5% in rural samples. The prevalence was higher in females(15.3%) than in males(11.7%). There were highly marked differences in the prevalence of depression by sex(p<0.05), age(p<0.0001), education(p<0.001) and income(p<0.01). Respondents of 60 years and over group, the less educated group(below elementary school graduated), and the less income group(less than 400,000 won/month) reported the highest rate of depression. However subjects' occupation and residence had little relation with the prevalence of depression. Drinking and smoking habit appeared to be highly associated with depression in females(p<0.0001) but not in males. The prevalence of depression and eating behavior were highly related(p<0.005). Male respondents below 20 years, 20-29, and 60 years and over depressed group reported significantly lower energy and protein intakes compared to that of the normal group. However, in the female respondents 20-29 years and 60 years and over depressed groups showed the significantly lower energy and protein intakes compared to those of the normal groups(p<0.05), it can be concluded that the various ecological factors such as epidemiological, dietary, and health factors may affect the prevalence of depression among Korean.