Low Self-Rated Health as A Risk Factor for Depression in South Korea: A Survey of Young Males and Females.

Yunyoung Kim,Eunsu Jang

doi:10.3390/healthcare9040452

Abstract

This is a cross-sectional study aimed to examine whether low self-rated health (SRH) is a risk factor for depression among young males and females. Data from the SRH, quality of life (QoL) and depression questionnaires as well as general information, were collected from 512 males and females aged 20–29 years in South Korea. Chi-square test was used to analyze the distribution of depression between the high and low SRH groups. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between SRH and depression after adjusting for covariates. There were 32.6% males and 30.1% females who were at risk for depression. A significant difference in the distribution of depression between the low and high SRH groups in both males and females was found. The low SRH group had a higher prevalence of depression than the high SRH group in both males and females in the crude analysis. However, when the BMI, economic status, and mental component score were adjusted, the OR of the low SRH group was still significant in males. Low SRH may be a risk factor for depression especially in males. Further studies to improve SRH by developing preventive measures against depression status while considering gender characteristics are needed.

Highlights

South Korea has experienced a variety of sociocultural upheavals, such as family dissolution, increase in the temporary workforce, and the aging of society, which are derived from its rapid economic growth
There was no difference in age, body mass index (BMI), residence type, drinking, or smoking; there was a difference in economic status (p = 0.007), physical component score (PCS) (p = 0.003) and mental component score (MCS) (p < 0.001)
There was no difference in age, residence type, economic status, smoking or drinking habits or PCS, but there was a difference in BMI (p = 0.010) and MCS (p < 0.001) (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

South Korea has experienced a variety of sociocultural upheavals, such as family dissolution, increase in the temporary workforce, and the aging of society, which are derived from its rapid economic growth. The increasing prevalence of depression can cause socioeconomic loss, and the medical expense for depression increased from KRW 73.9 billion in 2011 to KRW 91.5 billion in. Along with the increase in medical expense, the indirect socioeconomic loss associated with depression encompasses physical, social, and functional disabilities that may result in dropping out of school, a decrease in income, job loss, and even suicide. Depression has been correlated with demographic factors such as economic status, residence type, smoking, drinking, and body mass index (BMI) [5,6,7]. This means that these factors could affect the increase or decrease in depression. It is known that females are more vulnerable to depression than males because of ovarian hormones; estrogen and progesterone, deteriorate response

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion