Korean J Occup Health Nurs.  2020 Feb;29(1):49-57. 10.5807/kjohn.2020.29.1.49.

Experience of Depression regarding Psychosocial Factors in Middle-class Korea Workers: Comparison of Life Cycle Analysis

• Kang Br
• Oh Hy
• Seo Yj
• Gil Eh
• Jo Ar

• KMID: 2509013
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5807/kjohn.2020.29.1.49

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to identify and compare the risk factors of depression among middle-class Korean workers.
Methods
A cross sectional study was designed for secondary data analysis. From the 8th Korean Medical Panel Survey (2008~2013), a total of 3,056 data was drawn and analyzed. With SPSS version 24, a developmental stage comparison, with the stage being young adults (20~39), middle-aged adults (40~64), and older adults (65+) were conducted. Frequency, percentage, x ² test and logistic regression analysis were statistical tools used to analyze the data.
Results
In all developmental groups, experience of frustration was found to be a common risk factor of depression. Stress from excessive task, peer-compared subjective health status, and self-perceived social class were risk factors of depression in the young adults and the middle-aged adults. Anxiety for the future significantly influenced depression in the middle-aged adults and older adults.
Conclusion
Experience of frustration was a major risk factor of depression among Korean middle-class workers. Interventions to reduce depression need to be developed focusing on the specific risk factors by developmental stages such as experience of frustration, stress from task burden, poor peer-compared subjective health status and anxiety for the future.

Keyword

Depression; Psychosocial deprivation; Mental health; Social class population; Labor