Increased Depression Among Seoul Elementary and Middle School Students Compared to Pre-COVID-19 "Fewer Opportunities to Meet Friends"

Middle School Students' Depression Increased Most from 1.57 to 1.82
Humanities High School Students' Depression Decreased Due to Remote Classes
Exercise and Sleep Time Lower Than International Average... Health Rights Need Guarantee

On the 2nd, when normal attendance was resumed at all schools nationwide, students are attending school at Gwangjang Elementary School in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. 2022.05.02 Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Depression levels among elementary and middle school students in Seoul have increased since COVID-19. High school students, however, experienced a decrease in depression as the time spent at school decreased.

On the 12th, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education's Education Research and Information Institute's Education Policy Research Center reported in the study "Analysis of the Health Status of Seoul Students Moving Toward the With-Corona Era" that the measured depression levels of Seoul students in 2019 and 2021 showed an increase from 1.45 to 1.51 for elementary students and from 1.57 to 1.82 for middle school students.

Comparison of Depression Scores Among Seoul Elementary, Middle, and High School Students Before and After COVID-19 (Data from Seoul Education Information Research Institute, Educational Policy Research Center)

In high schools, depression levels actually decreased. Among humanities-track high school students, depression dropped from 1.73 to 1.63 after COVID-19. Vocational high school students showed little change, from 1.75 to 1.77.

During the COVID-19 period, depression levels (on a 4-point scale) ranked as follows: middle school (1.82), vocational high school (1.77), humanities high school (1.63), and elementary school (1.51).

The research team explained, "Humanities high school students spend a very long time at school, but after COVID-19, attending classes remotely in the comfortable environment of home lowered their depression levels. For elementary and middle school students, the reduced opportunities to meet peers likely led to increased depression."

Comparison of 'Excessive Worry' Scores Among Seoul Elementary, Middle, and High School Students' Anxiety Before and After COVID-19 (Data from Seoul Education Information Research Institute, Educational Policy Research Center)

Regarding mental health, elementary students showed increases in COVID-19 related anxiety factors such as 'excessive worry' (0.37→0.44) and 'sensitivity' (0.34→0.41). Middle school students also showed a slight increase in 'excessive worry' (0.51→0.54).

The researchers stated, "Since anxiety levels increased among elementary students after COVID-19, support measures to alleviate this are necessary. These include active use of self-diagnostic tools (checklists) for mental health assessment, psychological counseling support, and providing education to enhance students' emotional and psychological resilience."

Sleep duration increased among middle school students after COVID-19. The group with the largest increase in sleep time before and after COVID-19 was middle school students (3.62→3.75), with elementary students (4.84→4.89) also showing a slight increase. Humanities high school students decreased (2.56→2.53), and vocational high school students showed no change (2.82).

After COVID-19, Seoul students' sleep duration is 7 to 9 hours for elementary and middle school students, and 6 to 7 hours for high school students. The average sleep time for Seoul high school students is 5 to 7 hours, which is lower than the OECD average of 8 hours and 22 minutes. The research team analyzed, "It is necessary to secure sufficient exercise and sleep time for Seoul students in absolute terms to guarantee their health rights."

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education is distributing mental health promotion materials (Ma-eum Toktok Life Keeper) jointly developed by UNICEF and eight countries to schools, and is promoting face-to-face counseling and outreach counseling through the Wee Project. Additionally, the Mind Health One-Stop Support Center has expanded school visit counseling and strengthened personalized face-to-face counseling for students.

This survey utilized preliminary data from the "Seoul Student Longitudinal Study 2020." The analysis targeted 4,486 fourth-grade elementary students, 4,589 first-year middle school students, 3,553 first-year humanities high school students, and 796 first-year vocational high school students in Seoul as of 2021.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.