Streets bustle with people in the popular nightlife district of Hongdae, western Seoul, on April 17, 2022. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 8 (Korea Bizwire) — Young South Koreans, who have higher levels of mistrust towards society, are more likely to experience depression, a report showed Sunday.
The study was conducted by a research team from the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, who analyzed the data of 3,018 South Koreans aged 19-34.
The respondents’ level of trust towards society and their propensity to suffer from depression were measured between November 2019 and January 2020.
Respondents were asked to score South Korea’s trustworthiness on a scale of 1 to 10, while their depression levels were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D).
The results of a multiple linear regression analysis showed a meaningful correlation between trust in society and depression.
Those who had higher levels of trust in society experienced milder depression, whereas those who had less trust in society were more likely to have higher levels of depression.
The correlation was more pronounced among men than women.
The report stated that mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and emotional disorders are becoming more prevalent among the country’s youth, as they struggle to survive in a competitive society.
The study highlights the importance of trust in society as a primary factor that affects mental health.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
