Deterioration of mental health despite successful control of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea.

ABSTRACT: South Korea was able to successfully control the spread of COVID-19 without nationwide lockdowns or drastic social distancing efforts, but pandemic-related psychological outcome of the general population remains unknown. Between March and June 2020, 400 South Korean residents participated in an online study of depression, anxiety, stress, psychosis-risk and loneliness, as well as indices of social network, physical health and demographics. Clinical levels of depression, anxiety or stress were reported by 45% of the respondents, and psychosis-risk was present in 12.8%; a drastic increase above the base rate reported by previous studies conducted in South Korea prior to the pandemic. Subjective feelings of loneliness, but not the size of the social network accounted for poor mental health. W

SUBMITTER: Lee HS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7664364 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature