J Korean Geriatr Psychiatry.  2021 Oct;25(2):113-119. 10.47825/jkgp.2021.25.2.113.

Factors Associated With Fear of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Stigmatization in the Elderly

• Choi YS
• Lee KK
• Lee SB
• Kim KM
• Kim DH
• Lee JJ

• KMID: 2522244
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.47825/jkgp.2021.25.2.113

Abstract

Objective
The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors associated with the fear of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) stigmatization in the elderly in Chungcheongnam-do, Korea.
Methods
This study used data of a survey on depression, loneliness, social support, and fear of COVID-19 of the elderly in a province of Korea in July to November, 2020. The sample consisted of 1,485 (female 1,117); mean age 78.3 (6.5) years old. We administered Korean version of the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form, 6-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, Medical Outcome Study Social Support Survey and experience about COVID-19 infection or fear of stigmatization. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed for evaluating the association between fear of COVID-19 stigmatization and the factors; gender, education level, living with spouse, socioeconomic status, depression, loneliness, and social support.
Results
Socioeconomic status and loneliness are associated with the fear of COVID-19 disease stigmatization, and gender and socioeconomic status are associated with the fear of COVID-19 territorial stigmatization.
Conclusion
Gender, socioeconomic status and loneliness are the factors for COVID-19 stigmatization in the elderly in Chungcheongnam-do, Korea.

Keyword

COVID-19; Stigmatization; Gender; Socioeconomic status; Loneliness