Objectives : The rates, correlates, and factor structure of depressive symptoms in a Korean rural sample were examined using Korean version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale(CES-D).
Methods : Door to door visiting survey was conducted by trained interviewers. A random cluster sample of 1,315 respondents, aged 30 and over completed the CES-D scale along with additional sociodemographic questionnaires.
Results : In this sample, mean CES-D score of male and female were 7.8 and 9.5, respectively, which were lower than those reported previously. Symptoms of depression were most common among the less educated, non-married and female according to ANCOVA. Age was not a significant risk factor for depressive symptoms. Different factor structures emerged from this sample as compared to other studies using this approach. Somatic symptoms and affective symptoms were combined as one factor and emotional hardship emerged as a separate factor.
Conclusions : Symptom scores and risk factors were similar to the results reported in other countries but unique factor structures were found in this study. Further research is needed about the Korean depressive symptomatology and related areas.
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