• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.44-54
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• 2023

Purpose: Uncertainty and restrictions on daily life have increased fear, stress, and depression during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Depression is the most common mental health problem in pregnant women. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the levels of fear and stress related to COVID-19 experienced by pregnant women, as well as their levels of depression, and to examine the factors associated with depression during pregnancy. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, correlational study conducted among 153 pregnant women who visited a maternity hospital in Busan, South Korea. A self-reported questionnaire was used for data collection from December 18, 2021 to March 8, 2022. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. Results: Pregnant women experienced a moderate level of fear related to COVID-19, with an average score of 21.55±4.90. The average score for depression during pregnancy was 14.86±11.10, with 50.3% of the participants experiencing depression (≥13). The factors associated with depression during pregnancy were fear of COVID-19, contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, being in the third trimester of pregnancy, high stress levels due to difficulties experienced from social distancing measures, and unintended pregnancy. These five statistically significant factors explained 35.0% of variance in depression during pregnancy. Conclusion: Considering the prevalence of depression in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to develop interventions to reduce anxiety by providing correct information and alleviating the stress of social distancing.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.446-455
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• 2022

This study investigated work experience of firefighters and risk factors for their depression during COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed data of 53,557 firefighters who participated in the online mental health status survey. Data included experiences of COVID-19 infection, experience of COVID-19 response work, fear of social stigma, and anxiety and depression symptoms. Results showed that 45.76% of participants had experience of COVID-19 response work. Emergency job group had the highest percentage of COVID-19 related work and the greater intensity of the work and fear of social stigma than those of other job groups. Hierarchical multiple regression showed that co-workers' infection, COVID-19 related work intensity and fear of social stigma were significantly associated to the severity of depression. The findings in this study demonstrated COVID-19 related work experience can link to the development of depression in firefighters. Effort to reduce COVID-19 related work intensity and fear of social stigma could help prevent depression among firefighters.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.253-261
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aims to identify the knowledge, risk perception, fear, self-efficacy, and preventive behaviors among nursing students, and factors influencing preventive behaviors on COVID-19. Methods: Data was collected from March, 2022 to May, 2022. The participants included 218 nursing students in their 3rd and 4th grade of three universities in two cities. Results: The knowledge of COVID-19 was 13.54 out of 15 points, risk perception was 4.83 out of 8 points, fear was 13.26 out of 35 points, self-efficacy was 19.96 out of 25 points, and preventive behaviors were 7.56 out of 9 points. The explanatory power of self efficacy (β= .21, p= .002), which affects preventive behaviors was 67.0%. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is necessary to develop a systematic nursing intervention that improves self-efficacy to improve preventive behaviors against COVID-19 among students. This study's result can be used in the future to develop appropriate health policies and program to prevent emerging infectious diseases.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the impact of fear and perception of infection risk on depression among service workers during prolonged Covid-19 service, and to provide basic data on the impact of COVID-19 prevention on the psychological health of service workers. Methods: Data were collected from workers nationwide from May 24 to 31, 2021. The data were analyzed using the t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis, using SPSS 28. Results: It was found that 44.3% of the participants experienced depression (PHQ-9 total scores ≥ 10) during the Covid-19 pandemic. The general characteristics of service workers that made a difference in the level of depression were health status, smoking, and perception of infection risk. Conclusion: Social support from institutions is needed to treat depression caused by Covid-19 among workers in the service sector.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.464-475
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the mediating effects of depression amid the influence of fear and social distancing arising from Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Korean women's suicidal ideation. Methods: A descriptive correlation study was conducted. Study participants, recruited by Hankook Research from March 2 to March 5, 2021, included 300 women aged 19 to 49 living in South Korea, and 100 people were randomly allocated and enlisted for each age group out of 700,000 Hankook Research Panels recruited in advance from 17 cities and provinces nationwide. Data were collected through a self-reported questionnaire and analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and Hayes' Process Macro Model 4 with 95% bias-corrected bootstrap confidence interval via SPSS statistics 27.0. Results: Suicidal ideation was significantly correlated with fear of COVID-19 (r = .16, p = .006) and depression (r = .65, p < .001). The mediation effect of depression in the relationship between the fear of COVID-19 and suicidal ideation was found to be significant (B = 0.40, boot 95% CI: 0.21~0.61). However, social distancing did not significantly affect suicidal ideation via depression (B = - 0.79, boot 95% CI: - 1.94~0.26). Conclusion: It is necessary to develop and apply interventions to prevent depression and suicidal behaviors by continuously observing and reducing the negative psychological responses caused by COVID-19.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.407-416
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• 2022

This study was attempted to determine how knowledge and fear of COVID-19 affects job-seeking anxiety of nursing students in the COVID-19 pandemic situation. The subjects of this study were 157 students from the 1st to 4th graders attending nursing universities. Data collection was collected from December 9, 2021, to February 21, 2022. Data were analyzed with the SPSS/WIN 24.0 program. As a result of this study, the job-seeking anxiety of the subjects was significantly correlated with the fear of COVID-19(r=.386, p<.001). And, influencing factors the job-seeking anxiety of nursing students identified in the order of fear of COVID-19, satisfaction with college. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a program that can reduce the fear of COVID-19 in order to lower the job-seeking anxiety of nursing students.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.86-95
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• 2021

Objectives: This study investigated associations between perceptions of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in workers at hospitals designated to treat COVID-19, as well as the difference in the magnitude of these associations by occupational type and previous Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) experience. Methods: The participants were workers at hospitals designated to treat COVID-19 who completed a questionnaire about their perceptions related to COVID-19, work experience during the previous MERS-CoV outbreak, and symptoms of PTSD ascertained by the PTSD Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Participants' characteristics were compared using the chi-square test. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to evaluate the associations between perceptions and the prevalence of PTSD, stratified by occupational type and previous MERS-CoV experience. Results: Non-medical personnel showed stronger associations with PTSD than medical personnel according to general fear (odds ratio [OR], 6.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.92 to 23.20), shortages of supplies (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.56), and issue-specific fear (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.59). Those with prior MERS-CoV quarantine experience were more prone to PTSD than those without such experience in terms of general fear (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.22 to 2.37), shortages of supplies (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.40), and issue-specific fear (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.38). Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, non-medical personnel tended to have higher odds of being categorized as having PTSD. Workers with prior MERS-CoV experience were more susceptible than those without such experience. These findings suggest the need for timely interventions to manage human resources for a sustainable quarantine system.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.171-179
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• 2020

This study was conducted to explore the experience of emotional change among senior citizens aged 65 and older experienced COVID-19 social situation. COVID-19 not only directly affects the elderly as a high-risk infectious disease, it also causes social isolation and depression caused by social distinctions, decreased cognitive skills, and worsened chronic diseases, and has indirect effects. As a result of the study, one component and four sub-components were derived, and the components were emotional changes. As the elderly experienced COVID-19, fear of spreading, fear of increasing the number of deceased and dead, and social distance I experienced depression, tightness, and anticipation for ending due to self-control. No matter how hard you try 'technical prevention', without 'psychological prevention', the anxiety of the elderly will inevitably increase. In this study, mediators for negative emotions experienced by the elderly are provided by providing accurate information to prevent the spread of fear caused by COVID-19 and proving emotional support programs such as 'psychological prevention' as well as 'technical prevention'. I think it will be necessary.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.221-232
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore emergency room nurse's work experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Data were collected from 15 registered nurses working in the emergency room between October, 10th and December 15th, 2020, through focus group interviews and in depth interviews. Collected data were analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological method. Results: The study derived four categories and eight themes. The four categories are 'sense of cringing with fear', 'nursing in chaotic situation', 'lonely struggles', and 'career growth as a nurse'. Emergency room nurses experienced fear and confusion in the COVID-19 pandemic, but overcame the crisis and had positive experiences of professional growth as a nurse. Conclusion: To protect emergency room nurses from infectious disease and improve their professional quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic appropriate education and healthcare resource should be provided. It is necessary to reflect clinical worker's opinions and improve the delivery system of guideline to reduce confusion in the field and develop practical infectious disease control guideline. Furthermore, better working conditions, appropriate rewards and social and mental support should be provided for nurses in emergency room.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 2021

Background: This study aimed to analyze Twitter users' emotional tendencies regarding oral surgery procedures before and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic worldwide. Methods: Tweets posted in English before and after the COVID-19 pandemic were included in the study. Popular tweets in 2019 were searched using the keywords "tooth removal", "tooth extraction", "dental pain", "wisdom tooth", "wisdom teeth", "oral surgery", "oral surgeon", and "OMFS". In 2020, another search was conducted by adding the words "COVID" and "corona" to the abovementioned keywords. Emotions underlying the tweets were analyzed using CrystalFeel - Multidimensional Emotion Analysis. In this analysis, we focused on four emotions: fear, anger, sadness, and joy. Results: A total of 1240 tweets, which were posted before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, were analyzed. There was a statistically significant difference between the emotions' distribution before and after the pandemic (p < 0.001). While the sense of joy decreased after the pandemic, anger and fear increased. There was a statistically significant difference between the emotional valence distributions before and after the pandemic (p < 0.001). While a negative emotion intensity was noted in 52.9% of the messages before the pandemic, it was observed in 74.3% of the messages after the pandemic. A positive emotional intensity was observed in 29.8% of the messages before the pandemic, but was seen in 10.7% of the messages after the pandemic. Conclusion: Infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, may lead to mental, emotional, and behavioral changes in people. Unpredictability, uncertainty, disease severity, misinformation, and social isolation may further increase dental anxiety and fear among people.