J Korean Acad Soc Nurs Educ.  2022 Aug;28(3):328-339. 10.5977/jkasne.2022.28.3.328.

Predictors of anxiety and depression in Korean adults during COVID-19 pandemic

• Sohn JN

• KMID: 2533011
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5977/jkasne.2022.28.3.328

Abstract

Purpose
This study was conducted to identify the mental health status of Korean adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and to verify the predictors and mediating effects of avoidance coping on the relationship between the intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety and the intolerance of uncertainty and depression.
Methods
An online survey was completed by 191 Korean adults from 19 to 64 years old. Using the IBM SPSS Win 19.0 program, the data were analyzed through the frequency, mean, t-test or analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, linear regression analysis and Sobel test.
Results
Of the survey respondents 21.5%, and 33.5% respectively were classified into anxiety and depression risk groups. The predictors of anxiety were intolerance of uncertainty (β=.52), avoidance coping (β=.21), and response efficacy (β=-.15). Those variables explained 47.7% of the respondents’ anxiety. The predictors of depression were intolerance of uncertainty (β=.40), avoidance coping (β=.20), and response-efficacy (β=-.12). These variables explained 34.9% of the participants’ depression. Among the predictors of anxiety and depression, avoidance coping was the significant mediating variable.
Conclusion
The predictors of anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic were revealed to be intolerance of uncertainty, avoidance coping, and response-efficacy. These results indicate the necessity of providing the cognitive interventions and reducing the use of avoidance coping strategies on a personal level. Community-level efforts, including early detection and health communication strategies, should prioritize risk groups for example young adults. The study suggests it will be necessary to provide sufficient information, psychological support and economic policy alternatives related to the COVID-19 pandemic on the national level.

Keyword

Anxiety; COVID-19; Depression; Mental health; 불안; 코로나바이러스 감염증; 우울; 정신건강