Patterns of depression among women post-divorce and the influential factors: Latent growth modeling

Abstract

Objectives

The purpose of this study is to longitudinally examine the change in depressive symptoms immediately following divorce among Korean women during the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as to verify the factors affecting the change in depressive symptoms.

Methods

A total of 401 women from the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women & Families(KLoWF) were analyzed between 2012(4th wave) and 2020(8th wave). Latent Growth Modeling is utilized to assess the overall trajectory of depressive symptoms in women following divorce.

Results

In the immediate aftermath of divorce, the level of depressive symptoms in divorced women was high, but gradually decreased over time, only to reappear later on. The factors impacting the initial depressive symptom levels among women post-divorce revealed that lower educational attainment, lower subjective economic status, and poorer subjective health status were associated with higher depressive symptom levels. Among the factors influencing the rate of change in depressive symptoms, living alone emerged as the only statistically significant factor. The depressive symptom levels of women living alone declined gradually, whereas the depressive symptom levels of women living with someone decreased more rapidly.

Conclusion

As a result of this study, valuable data can be used to develop practical interventions aimed at enhancing the mental well-being of women post-divorce, particularly during challenging circumstances such as the COVID-19 outbreak.