Concerns related to COVID-19 in South Korea : What are associated individual and regional factors?

Abstract

Abstract Background COVID-19 is raising new concerns previously non-existent. It is important to identify risk groups to avoid potential problems that may arise from this. Methods Data from the 2020 Korea Community Health Survey and official government database were collected for this analysis and are nationally representative. The final study population was 225,689 (men: 102,358; 45·4%, mean age: 54·9). Multilevel regression analysis was employed to evaluate concerns related to COVID-19 and its related individual- and area-level factors. Results 4·86% of the variability in the scores of concerns related to COVID-19 was accounted for by district areas. Individuals who lived in the most deprived area showed a higher coefficient of 0·123 (p-value: 0·070) compared to the least deprived area. In addition, concern type 3 (“Concerns of being blamed by others of infection”) showed a higher coefficient when individuals lived in the most deprived area (Q4 coefficient: 0·088, p-value: 0·006). Conclusion People in deprived areas had inferior coping strategies; thus, they are more likely to be a risk population for current or future psychological problems. Proper strategies on the population are needed to build risk perception with adequate information about COVID-19.