Objectives The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in changes by examining the trajectory of depression level changes in middle-aged before and after COVID-19 and to explore variables that can explain this difference. Methods In this study, a total of 4,368 people aged 40 to 69 years old were analyzed as potential growth models using data from five time points of the Korean Welfare Panel Survey 13th (2018) to 17th (2022). In addition, gen der, work status, education level, marital status, and household type were examined as variables that can explain the trajectory of depression change. Results First, from 2018 to 2022, the level of depression in the middle-aged decreased before COVID-19 but in creased after COVID-19. Second, as a result of analyzing the factors affecting the level of depression in the mid dle-aged in 2018, which is the initial stage of depression, showed that women were higher than men, people with low educational standards were lower than those with high levels, and people with spouses were higher than those without spouses. Conclusions As a result of analyzing the rate of change in depression among middle-aged, marital status and household type, which were variables that did not affect changes in depression among middle-aged before COVID-19, were confirmed to be significant variables explaining changes in depression among middle-aged and older adults after COVID-19.
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