Job activity lowered the risk of depression by 65 percent for men and 48 percent for women. (image: Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Dec. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — South Koreans in their 50s and over who have jobs are less likely to be depressed than those who are unemployed.
Some say that support programs are needed to help people engage in social activities while they are already entering an aged society.
According to a report from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Wednesday, the prevalence of depression among people in their 50s and older was 2.6 percent for men and 4.6 percent for women.
The study was conducted with data from 132,129 people, including 57,448 men and 74,681 women over the age of 50.
Among the survey participants, 1,542 men and 3,474 women showed symptoms of light and severe depression.
In particular, when comparing the prevalence of depression among those with jobs and those without jobs based on their job status, the difference was confirmed.
The prevalence rates of depression in men and women in their 50s or older who did not engage in professional activities were 6 percent and 6.3 percent, respectively, 2.7 to five times higher than 1.2 percent and 2.3 percent for men and women with jobs.
According to the researchers, 35 percent of men engaged in professional activities and 52 percent of women showed symptoms of depression, assuming a 100 percent chance of the unemployed being depressed.
In other words, job activity lowered the risk of depression by 65 percent for men and 48 percent for women.
South Korea has been a so-called aged society since 2017, with the proportion of senior citizens aged 65 or older exceeding 14 percent.
“We believe that we can reduce the disease burden of depression through active aging, including proper career activities,” said researchers from Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, which conducted the study.
D. M. Park (dmpark@koreabizwire.com)
