• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.179-188
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• 2017

Objectives : This study tried to examine whether there is any difference between the middle-aged men and women in terms of the effect of health-related and oral health-related characteristics on their depressive symptoms (PHQ-9). Methods : We used the 2nd year data of the 6th session of the National Health and Nutrition Survey of 2,008 adults(aged40~64 years) for fulfilling the research objectives. Results : The analysis showed that among middle-aged male and female respondents, household income, subjective health conditions, and stress perception among health-related characteristics had common elements affecting their depressive symptoms. The self-reported oral health conditions affected depressive symptoms for male respondents. On the other hand, chewing problems and contraction of periodontal disease affected depressive symptoms of female respondents. Conclusions : Thus, it is necessary to consider the effect of sex in the relationship between health-related and oral health-related characteristics, and to make efforts to develop differential programs to manage and prevent depressive symptoms among men and women.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2017

Purpose: This study identified the prevalence of depressive symptoms and explored correlates of depressive symptoms among Korean women care-workers caring older adults living in community. Methods: A total of 465 participants were recruited for the study. Depressive symptoms was measured by the CES-D10 and distress was assessed using a single question given 5 Likert scale. Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms and distress among care-workers were 32.5% and 32.0% respectively. Work environment safety, violence exposure experience, work-family conflict, weekly care work time, and poor health status were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Only violence exposure experience and poor health status were associated with distress. Conclusion: Our findings suggest more attention on mental health of care-workers and their risky work condition such as violence.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.337-344
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the association between each phase of the Life Transition Process (LTP) and depressive symptoms among parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, data pertaining to LTP and depressive symptoms were collected from 285 parents of children with ASD (101 fathers and 184 mothers). Participants were recruited through the Autism Society of Korea and a counseling center for families of children with ASD. Results: Using a cut-off point of 5 or higher on the Beck Depression Inventory-Short Form, more than half of the parents (53.4%) were deemed depressed; these parents experienced moderate (27.4%) to severe (11.6%) levels of depressive symptoms. A hierarchical multiple regression using the socio-demographic characteristics of children and parents and each phase of the LTP as predictors, found that lower income (${\beta}=-.14$, p=.007) and greater scores for the wandering phase (${\beta}=.59$, p<.001) were significant predictors of greater levels of depressive symptoms. Conclusion: These findings confirm the association between LTP and depressive symptoms for parents of children with ASD, who were found to have a greater risk of depressive symptoms during wandering phase.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.351-358
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• 2021

Backgrounds: Irregular and unpredictable work schedules have become more common in most societies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between unpredictable work schedules and depressive symptoms in Korea. Methods: Data from 34,486 workers who participated in the Korean Working Condition Survey in 2017 were used. Unpredictable work schedules were measured by questions about the frequency of changes in work schedule and limited advanced notice. Depressive symptoms were assessed by a single item asking if the participants had depressive symptoms over the last 12 months. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for high depressive symptoms. Results: The OR for depressive symptoms was significantly higher in the workers with unpredictable work schedules compared to those with predictable work schedules after controlling for age, sex, education, salary, marital status, occupation, contract period, full-time versus part-time, shift work, weekly working hours, and having a child under the age of 18 years (OR = 2.43, 95% confidence interval 1.93-3.07). Conclusion: Unpredictable work schedules were associated with depressive symptoms controlling for the other dimensions of precarious employment in a representative working population in Korea.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.607-620
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• 2021

In the current study, the effects of living-alone older adults' social participation on their depressive symptoms were assessed. Data of 924 older adults from the Aging Research Panel Survey were analyzed. The results show that the effects of older adults' social participation on depressive symptoms vary depending on the types of social participation and gender. Men attending school or hometown alumni meetings and clan gatherings showed fewer depressive symptoms; women participating in informal social gatherings or organizations for leisure, culture, and sports had fewer depressive symptoms. The results suggest that living-alone older adults' gender and dimensions of social participation should be considered when designing programs and services to reduce their depressive symptoms.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.200-207
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between digital literacy and depressive symptoms, as well as the mediating role of social support in this relationship, among older women (60 years and older) in Korea. Methods: This study analyzed data from the User Experience Evaluation Survey, which was conducted by the Ewha Institute for Age Integration Research to improve the accessibility of digital information for older adults research from May to September 2020. Survey data on depressive symptoms, digital literacy, and social support were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. Results: The factors influencing depressive symptoms among older women included work status (B=-.19, p=.01), social support (B=-.17, p<.001), self-rated health (B=-.13, p=.003), and digital literacy (B=-.10, p=.005), which had an explanatory power of 33%. In addition, social support played a mediating role in the relationship between digital literacy and depressive symptoms (B=-.05, SE=.02; 95% CI, -.09 to -.02). Conclusion: The findings of this study support the need to develop and apply interventions that promote digital literacy among older women to mitigate depressive symptoms by increasing social support.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.481-490
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• 2014

This study aims to identify depressive symptoms status and factors to affect depressive symptoms in the elderly. The research selected 1,429 adults aged over 65, who appeared with depressive symptoms, from the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2012. We analyzed states of depressive symptoms using descriptive statistics. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the main factors associated with depressive symptoms in the elderly. The result shows that depressive symptoms in the elderly is significantly associated with gender, age, income level, subjective health status, smoking and the number of chronic diseases. Females, higher age, lower income, lower subjective health status, smoking and the higher the number of chronic diseases were the significant factors of higher depressive symptoms. Therefore, it is necessary to develop effective social programs and individualized approach to improve the quality of life in the elderly. In the future, these findings can be used as important data for health care policy and assessment.

• Child Studies in Asia-Pacific Contexts
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.27-45
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• 2014

The present study investigated the developmental pattern of Korean mothers' depressive symptoms from a week prior to birth through four months postpartum in a nationally represented survey sample in Korea, using a Latent Growth Curve model. Mother-reported four factors-maternal self-efficacy in parenting, father's participation in childcare, a number of hours mothers worked per week, child's emotional temperament-were examined as the predictors of depressive symptoms over time in the context of Korean culture. Effects of maternal depressive trajectories on their infants' developmental outcomes at the first year were also examined. Findings were as follows: First, mothers' reports of depressive symptoms decreased at the first month after birth and then increased again during the first 4 months postpartum. Second, mothers' perceived low spousal involvement in childcare, low parental self-efficacy, and their infants' difficult temperament at four-month old had significantly positive relations to the initial level of maternal depressive symptoms whereas the low spousal involvement in childcare and low maternal self-efficacy factors significantly predicted the changes of trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms. Third, the trajectories, in turn, predicted warm and responsive maternal parenting style at the fourth month. Subsequently, the parenting style had a significant longitudinal impact on the development of children's communication, problem-solving, and personal-social abilities. Based on these findings, awareness, preventive and interventional programs might be built to facilitate Korean mothers suffering severe postpartum depressive symptoms and further promote optimal early development of Korean children.

• Journal of the Korean society of biological therapies in psychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.173-183
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• 2018

Objectives : The aim of study was to estimate the prevalence of poor sleep quality and depressive symptoms as well as to examine the moderating effect of positive psychology on the relationship between poor sleep quality and depressive symptoms among Korean university students. Methods : A total of 2,338(1,071 male and 1,267 female) university students at seven universities of four cities in Korea were randomly selected to participate in a survey. Data were collected by self-report questionnaires, including Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI), Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Satisfaction with Life Scale(SWLS), Positive Psychotherapy Inventory(PPTI), and sociodemographic characteristics. Results : The prevalence was 44.8% for poor sleep quality and 14.4% for depressive symptoms among Korean university students. By moderated regression analysis, the results showed that poor sleep quality(${\beta}=0.453$, p<0.001) aggravated depressive symptoms of university students, and life satisfaction(${\beta}=-0.087$, p<0.001) and happiness(${\beta}=-0.145$, p<0.001) respectively buffered the negative effect of the poor sleep quality on depressive symptoms. Conclusion : This study showed very high prevalence of poor sleep quality and depressive symptoms among Korean university students. Overall, these findings demonstrates that positive psychology can be effective in the enhancement of subjective and psychological well-being and may help to reduce depressive symptom levels. In the context of public health, positive psychology can be used as preventive, easily accessible and non-stigmatizing tools.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.242-252
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to identify factors influencing depressive symptoms in public and private sector employees. Methods: Survey data on 23,602 workers who had worked in the public or private sector were obtained from the 2014 Korean Working Condition Survey (KWCS). Symptoms of depression were measured using the WHO-5 Well-being Index. Data were analyzed using a $x^2$ test, t-test, and multivariate stepwise logistic regression to determine the factors affecting the symptoms of depression. Results: First, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 41.1 % in public sector employees and 43.4 % in private sector employees. Second, the factors commonly affecting depressive symptoms in public and private sector employees were residence area, cognitive demands, development opportunities, social support from colleagues, social support from supervisors, social community at work, job rewards, and work-family conflict. In addition, age, company size, atypical work, ergonomic risks, quantitative demands, emotional demands, influence, and job insecurity were found to be predictors of depressive symptoms unique to private sector employees. Conclusion: Mental health programs including the employee assistance program (EAP) should be developed and implemented after considering the risk factors affecting depressive symptoms.