A 4-Year Observation of the Incidence of Depressionand Suicide Among Older Adults from the Onset of theCOVID-19
- Author:
Seoung-Kyun LEE
1
;
Bo-Hyun YOON
;
Kyungmin KIM
;
Ha-Ran JUNG
;
Hangoeunbi KANG
;
Yuran JEONG
;
Hyunju YUN
;
Jye-Heon SONG
;
Young-Hwa SEA
;
Suhee PARK
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From: Mood and Emotion 2023;21(3):51-60
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background:This study aimed to examine the influence of the coronavirus disease pandemic 2019 (COVID-19) by comparing the incidences of depression, suicidal ideation, and suicidal attempts before and after the outbreak of the pandemic among community-dwelling older adults.
Methods:In total, 9,784 older adults were recruited from 22 counties in Jeollanam-do between 2019 and 2022. Selfreported questionnaires, including sociodemographic factors, suicidal ideation, suicidal attempt, and Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form Korean version, were used.
Results:The proportion of the depression high-risk group tended to increase since the COVID-19 outbreak, increasing to 16.3%, 23.1%, and 25.7% in 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively; however, decreased to 21.8% in 2022. The incidence of suicidal ideation showed a similar pattern. The incidence of suicidal attempts showed a different pattern, rising to 1.3% and 2.6% in 2019 and 2020, respectively and then falling to 1.1% and 0.8% in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Conclusion:This study examined community-dwelling older adults and their mental states during the COVID-19 pandemic, and found that the risk of depression among older adults increased 1.708-fold in 2020, 1.877-fold in 2021, and 1.599-fold in 2022 compared to that in 2019, the year before the pandemic. Similarly, the risk of suicidal ideation increased by 1.582-fold in 2020, 1.913-fold in 2021, and 1.623-fold in 2022 compared with 2019 data. As the pandemic extended, mental health states improved; however, not to prepandemic levels. Suggesting that older people need continued support to alleviate the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
