J Korean Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry.  2024 Oct;35(4):230-242. 10.5765/jkacap.220039.

Depression, Anxiety and Associated Factors Among Korean Adolescent Students During COVID-19

• Jung Dy
• Yoon KH
• Jo My
• Jeong Hj
• Kweon YS

• KMID: 2560020
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5765/jkacap.220039

Abstract

Objectives
Depression and anxiety are emotional difficulties that are common among adolescents. Adolescents suffering from depression and anxiety can exhibit problems such as antisocial behavior, aggression, and academic slump. This study aimed to explore the factors influencing adolescents’ depression and anxiety during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Methods
This study examined the data from an online student health survey conducted by the Ministry of Education in 2022. The survey participants were 131194 students ranging from the first grade of middle school to the third grade of high school. The influence of each variable on depression and anxiety was examined.
Results
Factors that predicted depression and anxiety were sex (female), grade level (higher), financial difficulties (existing or unknown), physical activity (higher), sleep time (shorter), media usage time (higher), family/friends relationship (worse), and change in the health status of family, friends, and oneself due to COVID-19 (worse).
Conclusion
These results may help identify patterns of depression and anxiety among adolescents caused by COVID-19 and maximize the intervention effect.

Keyword

Adolescent; Students; Depression; Anxiety; COVID-19 pandemic