Changes in daily life due to COVID-19: focusing on health education to reduce risk

Abstract

Introduction. Coronavirus, which started in 2019, spread worldwide and affected the lives of people around the world for a longer time than expected, and the risks of COVID-19 can be seen as a general phenomenon. As the pandemic has prolonged, there is a need to identify longitudinal trends in how people's daily lives are changing due to the pandemic to gain insights into how to sustain life in the post-pandemic era, and data has been accumulated that can be utilized. The purpose of this study is to identify the generalization of risk in changes in daily life due to COVID-19, i.e., to identify the generalization of risk due to COVID-19 by analyzing longitudinal (2019-2022) changes in daily life (economic situation, mental health, changes in family and social relationships) due to COVID-19 among the elderly, baby boomers, and MZ generation in Korea. The results of this study will provide health education implications to protect our daily lives from the risk of changes in daily life caused by COVID-19. Research methods. In this study, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 data were used among the KOWEPS data. Reliability analysis and repeated measurement ANOVA (using General Linear Model) were applied using SPSS 24 version. Results. First, as the COVID-19 pandemic prolonged, depression gradually increased (F=21.252, p<.001), and family relationship satisfaction and social relationship satisfaction tended to change negatively (F =3.545, p<.05, F=51.309, p<.001). Second, looking at economic difficulties, the main effect of time (F=9.303, p<.001) and generation (F=30.043, p<.001) were significant. The economic situation was most traumatic for the baby boomers, who are the backbone of Korean society. Third, looking at depression, the main effect of time (F=11.656, p<.001) and the main effect of generation (F=16.962, p<.001) were significant, and the interaction between time and generation (F=4.345, p<.001) was also significant. And in the case of self-esteem, only the main effect of generation (F=223.695, p<.001) was significant. The elderly was the most affected group in terms of mental health due to COVID-19. Fourth, Looking at family conflict, the main effect of time (F=81.399, p<.001), the main effect of generation (F=3.294, p<.05), and the interaction between time and generation (F=2.721, p<.05) were all significant. In the case of family relationship satisfaction, only the main effect of generation (F=140.768, p<.001) was significant. Although Generation MZ did not experience much economic hardship due to COVID-19, they had higher levels of depression and family conflict than other groups, but they also had the highest levels of satisfaction with family relationships and social relationships. Conclusion. First, all variables except self-esteem experienced negative changes across the board, confirming the generalization of the risk posed by COVID-19. However, there was a positive change in family conflicts, which decreased in 2022. Second, the longitudinal changes in daily life due to COVID-19 differed by generation, revealing generational heterogeneity. Economic conditions had the most negative impact on baby boomers, while mental health and interpersonal relationships had the greatest impact on seniors. Therefore, this study suggests to establish a longterm health education plan by paying attention to the fact that if a virus such as COVID-19 becomes a global risk in the future, changes in daily life will be reflected differently depending on the characteristics of each generation.