Relationship between Physical Illness and Depression in North Korean Defectors

북한이탈주민의 신체질환과 우울증상의 연관성에 관한 연구

  • Kim, Seog-Ju (Department of Psychiatry, Gachon University of Medicine and Science) ;
  • Kim, Hyo-Hyun (Department of Psychiatry, Gachon University of Medicine and Science) ;
  • Kim, Jung-Eun (Incheon Metropolitan Mental Health Center) ;
  • Cho, Seong-Jin (Department of Psychiatry, Gachon University of Medicine and Science) ;
  • Lee, Yu-Jin (Department of Psychiatry, Gachon University of Medicine and Science)
  • 김석주 (가천의과학대학교 정신과학교실) ;
  • 김효현 (가천의과학대학교 정신과학교실) ;
  • 김정은 (인천광역정신보건센터) ;
  • 조성진 (가천의과학대학교 정신과학교실) ;
  • 이유진 (가천의과학대학교 정신과학교실)
  • Received : 2011.01.07
  • Accepted : 2011.03.05
  • Published : 2011.06.30

Abstract

Objectives: The present study aims to investigate the effects of physical illness on depression in North Korean Defectors. Methods: One hundred forty-four North Korean Defectors(20 males, 124 females) and 376 South Koreans 133 males, 243 females) in Incheon Metropolitan areas participated the present study. Face-to-face interview was conducted for demographic information including presence of physical illnesses. To investigate depressive symptoms, all participants were required to complete the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale (CES-D). Results: After controlling gender, age, marital status, educational year, employment status and physical illness, North Korean Defectors showed higher CES-D score than South Koreans(${\beta}$=0.449, p<0.001). Within North Korean Defectors, the presence of physical illnesses independently was related to higher CES-D score(${\beta}$=0.243, p<0.001). However, within South Koreans, the presence of physical illnesses did not significantly predict CES-D score. North Korean Defectors with physical illness have higher CES-D score than North Korean Defectors without physical illness($26.8{\pm}13.8$ versus $19.7{\pm}12.7$). However, there was no significant differences of CES-D score between South Koreans with physical illness and South Koreans without physical illness($10.3{\pm}9.8$ versus $9.3{\pm}8.8$). Conclusion: Compared to South Koreans, North Korean Defector showed higher depressive symptoms independently from gender, age, education, employment, marriage. In addition, only North Korean Defectors showed the relationship between depression and physical illness. Our study suggests that depression should be assessed when North Korean Defectors have physical illness.

연구목적: 본 연구는 북한이탈주민의 신체질환이 우울증상에 미치는 영향을 조사하기 위해 시행되었다. 방 법: 인천 지역에 거주하는 북한이탈주민 144명(남/여=20/124)과 남한 출생 주민 376명(남/여=133/243)이 연구에 참여했다. 모든 연구 참여자에게 일대일 면담을 시행하여 인구학적 정보와 신체질환 여부를 조사하였다. 또한, 우울 증상을 평가하기 위해 역학연구센터 우울척도(The Center for Epidemiologic Sstudies-Depression Scale, CES-D)를 작성하도록 하였다. 결 과: 성별, 나이, 결혼 여부, 교육연한, 고용상태, 신체질환 여부와 같은 인구학적 변인을 통제한 이후에도 남한 출신 주민에 비해 북한이탈주민의 CES-D 점수가 높았다(${\beta}$=0.449, p<0.001). 또한 북한이탈주민에서는 신체질환이 다른 인구학적 변수와 독립적으로 높은 CES-D 점수를 예측할 수 있었으나(${\beta}$=0.243, p<0.001), 남한 출신 주민에서는 신체질환과 CES-D 점수가 유의한 관련성이 없었다. 신체질환을 동반한 북한이탈주민의 CES-D 점수($26.8{\pm}13.8$)는 신체질환이 없는 북한이탈주민($19.7{\pm}12.7$)에 비해 유의하게 높았다. 그러나, 신체질환이 있는 남한 주민($10.3{\pm}9.8$)과 신체질환이 없는 남한 주민의 CES-D 점수($9.3{\pm}8.8$)는 유의한 차이가 없었다. 결 론: 북한이탈주민은 성별, 나이, 교육, 고용, 결혼 여부와 독립적으로 남한 출신 주민에 비해 우울증상이 심하였다. 또한, 북한이탈주민에서 신체질환과 우울증의 관련성이 유의하였다. 이는 특히 북한이탈주민의 경우 신체 질환이 있을 때 우울증상에 대한 평가도 함께 이루어져야 함을 시사한다.

Keywords

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