Woorim Kim1, Eun-Cheol Park2, Tae-Hoon Lee1, Yeong Jun Ju1, Jaeyong Shin2, Sang Gyu Lee3. 1. Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 2. Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 3. Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea Department of Hospital Management, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea LEEVAN@yuhs.ac.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In South Korea, societal perceptions on occupation are distinct, with people favouring white collar jobs. Hence both occupation type and income can have mental health effects. AIM: To examine the relationship between occupational classification and depression, along with the combined effect of occupational classification and household income. METHODS: Data were from the Korean Welfare Panel Study (KOWEPS), 2010-2013. A total of 4,694 economically active participants at baseline were followed. Association between occupational classification and depression, measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale 11, was investigated using the linear mixed effects model. RESULTS: Blue collar (β: 0.3871, p = .0109) and sales and service worker groups (β: 0.3418, p = .0307) showed higher depression scores than the white collar group. Compared to the white collar high-income group, white collar low income, blue collar middle income, blue collar middle-low income, blue collar low income, sales and service middle-high income, sales and service middle-low income and sales and service low-income groups had higher depression scores. CONCLUSION: Occupational classification is associated with increasing depression scores. Excluding the highest income group, blue collar and sales and service worker groups exhibit higher depression scores than their white collar counterparts, implying the importance of addressing these groups.
BACKGROUND: In South Korea, societal perceptions on occupation are distinct, with people favouring white collar jobs. Hence both occupation type and income can have mental health effects. AIM: To examine the relationship between occupational classification and depression, along with the combined effect of occupational classification and household income. METHODS: Data were from the Korean Welfare Panel Study (KOWEPS), 2010-2013. A total of 4,694 economically active participants at baseline were followed. Association between occupational classification and depression, measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale 11, was investigated using the linear mixed effects model. RESULTS: Blue collar (β: 0.3871, p = .0109) and sales and service worker groups (β: 0.3418, p = .0307) showed higher depression scores than the white collar group. Compared to the white collar high-income group, white collar low income, blue collar middle income, blue collar middle-low income, blue collar low income, sales and service middle-high income, sales and service middle-low income and sales and service low-income groups had higher depression scores. CONCLUSION: Occupational classification is associated with increasing depression scores. Excluding the highest income group, blue collar and sales and service worker groups exhibit higher depression scores than their white collar counterparts, implying the importance of addressing these groups.