Jung Hyun Woo, Choi Minsu, Lee Kwang-Soo
Digital Mental Health Innovation Center, Dankook University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea.
Department of Health Administration, Yonsei University Graduate School, Wonju, Republic of Korea.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 27;15(1):3428. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-87387-9.
This study is the first to examine the determinants of future anxiety in South Korea using the Social Ecological Model (SEM). It aimed to show that, beyond individual factors, mezzo- and macro-level aspects, particularly those related to housing, may influence anxiety. Utilizing 2018 data from the Korean Health Panel Survey, we employed a three-level multilevel analysis to investigate how these factors contribute to the perception of future anxiety among Koreans. Our findings reveal that future anxiety is influenced by a complex interplay of demographic and socio-economic factors, including gender, age, health status, economic stability, living conditions, and regional socio-economic indicators. Notably, the study highlights the significant role of household-level factors, such as income and housing status, in shaping individuals' anxieties about the future. Additionally, regional characteristics like housing vacancy rates and suicide rates are found to have an impact, suggesting the importance of broader socio-economic and cultural contexts in understanding future anxiety. Given South Korea's socio-economic challenges, including the real estate crisis and demographic shifts, our study underscores the need for targeted policies to alleviate future anxiety, enhance mental well-being, and promote a more equitable society.
本研究首次运用社会生态模型（SEM）来探究韩国未来焦虑情绪的决定因素。其目的在于表明，除了个体因素外，中观和宏观层面的因素，尤其是与住房相关的因素，可能会影响焦虑情绪。利用韩国健康面板调查2018年的数据，我们采用了三级多层次分析，以研究这些因素如何导致韩国人对未来焦虑情绪的感知。我们的研究结果显示，未来焦虑情绪受到人口统计学和社会经济因素复杂相互作用的影响，这些因素包括性别、年龄、健康状况、经济稳定性、生活条件以及地区社会经济指标。值得注意的是，该研究强调了家庭层面因素，如收入和住房状况，在塑造个人对未来焦虑情绪方面的重要作用。此外，发现住房空置率和自杀率等地区特征也有影响，这表明在理解未来焦虑情绪时，更广泛的社会经济和文化背景具有重要意义。鉴于韩国面临的社会经济挑战，包括房地产危机和人口结构变化，我们的研究强调需要制定针对性政策，以缓解未来焦虑情绪、增进心理健康并促进更公平的社会。
