J Korean Med Sci.  2023 Jan;38(4):e17. 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e17.

Sex Differences in COVID-19 Infection Fear in a Community Sample of Korean Adults Using Quantile Regression

• Na H
• Jung YE
• Park C
• Lee C
• Kim MD
• Bahk WM

• KMID: 2539188
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e17

Abstract

This study aims to explore the impact of distributional changes in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection fear with sex differences. A quota sampling strategy was followed and 483 Korean adults were surveyed in a community sample. Self-report questionnaires were used to assess COVID-19 infection fear, depressive symptoms, and general characteristics. Quantile regression was used to explore the regression relationship of COVID-19 infection fear and an individual’s sex. There was a significant difference in COVID-19 infection fear (P= 0.001) and depression (P = 0.008) between the sexes - male and female. The differences between sexes at the 20th and 30th percentiles were significant (β = 2.04, P = 0.006; β = 1.5, P = 0.004, respectively). The results demonstrate that sex significantly predicts COVID-19 infection fear and women had significantly greater fear than men in the mild-level of COVID-19 infection fear.

Keyword

COVID-19; Fear; Sex; Depression; Quantile Regression

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Distribution of COVID-19 infection fear by sex.COVID-19 = coronavirus disease 2019, CIFS = Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection Fear Scale.

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