Prevalence and Correlates of Depressive Symptoms among North Korean Defectors Living in South Korea for More than One Year.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms in North Korean defectors who have been living in South Korea for more than one year.


METHODS
We used questionnaires developed by the authors to collect sociodemographic data in addition to the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Psychosocial Well-being Index to measure stress, and a social support scale. A total of 367 subjects were included in this study.


RESULTS
The results showed that 30.5% of the men and 34.7% of the women reported depressive symptoms, and 33.1% of the men and 36.1% of the women exhibited signs of severe distress. Correlates of depressive symptoms were lack of occupation [odds ratio (OR)=2.198, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.247-3.873], having escaped without family (OR=1.725, 95% CI, 1.006-2.959), and a poor subjective sense of health status (OR=3.111, 95% CI, 1.591-6.085).


CONCLUSIONS
Continuing vocational training and career management, psychological support programs, and intensive physical health services are needed to improve the mental health of this population.
Jeon
Bong-Hee
BH
Department of Psychiatry and Institute of Medical Science, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
Kim
Moon-Doo
MD
Hong
Seong-Chul
SC
Kim
Na-Ri
NR
Lee
Chang-In
CI
Kwak
Young-Sook
YS
Park
Joon-Hyuk
JH
Chung
Jaehwan
J
Chong
Hanul
H
Jwa
Eun-Kyung
EK
Bae
Min-Ho
MH
Kim
Sanghee
S
Yoo
Bora
B
Lee
Jun-Hwa
JH
Hyun
Mi-Yeul
MY
Yang
Mi-Jeong
MJ
Kim
Duk-Soo
DS