The association mental health of adolescents with economic impact during the COVID-19 pandemic: A 2020 Korean nationally representative survey

Abstract Background COVID-19 has affected innumerable lives across society, including in the spheres of education, economy, and religion. Economic problems and inequality are related to the poor mental health of adolescents. This study was to identify the relationship between the economic damage to families due to COVID-19 and various mental health problems for Korean adolescents, and evaluate the risk factors of mental health. Methods A total of 54,948 students were surveyed from 398 middle and 395 high schools. Complex sample logistic regressions were performed to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and the 95% confidence interval (CI) of depression and suicidal ideation. Generalized linear model analysis were used to examine the association between mental health (unhappiness, lonely and stress) and economic impact of COVID-19. Theses analyses were adjusted for age, gender, school grade, perceived academic achievement, perceived family economic status, economic support. Results The ORs of depression (OR = 1.77, 95% CI : 1.57-2.00), suicide ideation (OR = 2.14, 95% CI : 1.84–2.50), unhappiness (OR = 1.51 95% CI 1.42–1.60) and lonely (OR = 1.38 95% CI 1.27–1.49) for the low level of perceived family economic status was higher compared to middle level. Adolescents who experienced economic deterioration at household as COVID-19 showed a higher risk of depression (OR = 1.42, 95% CI : 1.35–1.49), suicide ideation (OR = 1.36, 95% CI : 1.28–1.44), unhappiness (OR = 2.23 95% CI 2.19–2.27), lonely (OR = 1.20 95% CI 1.17–1.22), and stress (OR = 1.14 95% CI 1.12–1.16) than those who did not. Conclusions The findings revealed an association between the decline in household economic status due to COVID-19 and mental health problems such as stress, loneliness, suicidal ideation, depression, and unhappiness.