A survey of depressive symptoms among South Korean adults after the Korean financial crisis of late 1997: prevalence and correlates.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the prevalence of high levels of depressive symptoms and their association with sociodemographic and health characteristics in an urban Korean population following the financial crisis in late 1997.


METHODS
Using data from a cross-sectional survey conducted in Ansan-city, Korea, from June 1999 to June 2000, we examined the prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms in a randomly selected sample of 4897 (2531 male and 2366 female) subjects aged 18 to 92 years. The prevalence and odds ratios of "probable" and "definite" depressive symptoms, defined as a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score of > or = 16 and > or = 24, respectively, were calculated.


RESULTS
The mean CES-D score and prevalence of "probable" and "definite" depression were significantly higher in women (15.63, 41.67%, and 12.05%, respectively) than in men (14.43, 35.05%, and 8.10%, respectively) (p < 0.0001). In multiple logistic regression analysis, being female, unemployed, unmarried, self-assessed as unhealthy, and having a low income were found to be significant predictors of "probable" and "definite" depressive symptoms in Korean adults.


CONCLUSIONS
Although current data cannot be directly compared with those reported in the most recently published Korean data from 1994, considerably high mean CES-D score and prevalence of depression speculate that the Korean financial crisis of 1997 had an effect on the development of depressive symptoms in Korean adults.
Kim
Eunkyung
E
Department of Biomedical Sciences, National Institute of Health, Seoul, Korea.
Jo
Sangmee Ahn
SA
Hwang
Ji-Yun
JY
Shin
Chol
C
Kim
Doh Kwan
DK
Woo
Eun Kyung
EK
Kim
Sung-Soo
SS
Shin
Kyung Rim
KR
Jo
Inho
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004467:Economics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors