Resilience Factors Mitigate the Impact of (COVID)-19 Concerns on Depressive Symptoms

Objectives: During COVID-19, resilience became crucial; however, research on resilience factors in this context remains limited. In this study, we investigated the relationship between COVID-19 concerns and depressive symptoms, with a specific focus on identifying resilience factors that can mitigate the impact of these concerns on depressive symptoms. Methods: Using data from the 2020 Korea Community Health Survey (215,988 participants), logistic regression with a complex sample design was applied to assess the association between COVID-19 concerns and depressive symptoms, incorporating community-related factors as moderators. Results: COVID-19 concerns significantly correlated with depressive symptoms (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.25–1.36). Notably, higher preventive compliance (OR = 1.03), adherence to physical distancing (OR = 1.10), and trust in government and neighbors (OR = 1.07) mitigated the association between COVID-19 concerns and depressive symptoms compared to their respective counterparts with lower compliance or trust levels (OR = 1.28). Conclusions: As part of preparedness, improving the environment to facilitate compliance with preventive measures and fostering high levels of trust in the government and neighbors may be important to protecting mental health during future public health emergencies.