본 연구는 한국의 경제활동인구집단을 대상으로 하여 고용지위와 우울의 관계가 어떤 양상을 나타내는지 알아보고 더 나아가 고용지위별 우울수준에 차이가 발생하는 메커니즘을 살펴보기 위해 소득과 사회심리적 자원의 매개효과를 검토하였다. 이를 위해 한국복지패널 1차년도(2006년) 자료를 활용하였다. 이 자료는 일반적인 인구 집단의 우울 연구에 대표적으로 활용되는 CES-D척도의 11개 항목과 사회적 지지 그리고 자기존중감을 측정할 수 있는 항목들을 포함하고 있다. 고용지위는 상용직, 임시․일용직, 자영업자, 실업자로 구분하였다. 분석결과에 따르면, 한국의 경제활동인구집단에 있어서 고용지위에 따라 우울수준에 유의미한 차이가 있었으며, 가구소득과 자기존중감 그리고 사회적 지지가 그 차이를 상당부분 설명해주는 것으로 나타났다. 구체적으로, 상용직보다 임시․일용직의 우울수준이 높은 것은 자기존중감과 소득이 상대적으로 낮기 때문이며 이와 함께 사회적 지지의 수준이 낮은 것도 추가적인 이유이다. 상용직보다 자영업자의 우울수준이 높은 것은 소득에 의해 가장 많이 설명되며 자기존중감에 의해 일정하게 설명되고, 사회적 지지는 설명력이 없다. 상용직보다 실업자의 우울수준이 높은 것은 자기존중감에 의해 가장 많이 설명되고, 소득으로 일정하게 설명되며, 사회적 지지는 설명력이 매우 적다. 본 연구는 고용지위에 따른 우울의 차이를 단순히 확인하는 차원을 넘어 그러한 차이가 발생하는 메커니즘을 몇 개의 매개변인을 통해 효과적으로 밝혀냈다는 함의를 갖는다.
This study investigated the association between employment status and depression among the labor force in South Korea. Furthermore, we examined the mediating roles of income and psychosocial factors in the association between employment status and depression. We used data from the first year (2006) survey of the Korea Welfare Panel Study(KOWEPS). The survey includes CES-D(the Center for Epidemiological Studies' Depression) scales and the items which measure social support and self-esteem. We classified employment status into four categories: permanent workers, temporary workers, the self-employed and the unemployed. The results indicated that employment status was significantly related to depression and showed that the lower levels of self-esteem and income among temporary workers were the two main factors which accounted for the higher level of depression among them, compared to permanent workers. The lower level of social support among temporary workers also contributed to the difference in depression. The higher level of depression among the self-employed, compared to permanent workers, was substantially explained by income and self-esteem. The higher level of depression among the unemployed, compared to permanent workers, was substantially explained by self-esteem and income. This study elucidated the mechanisms that mediate the relationship between employment status and depression.
This study investigated the association between employment status and depression among the labor force in South Korea. Furthermore, we examined the mediating roles of income and psychosocial factors in the association between employment status and depression. We used data from the first year (2006) survey of the Korea Welfare Panel Study(KOWEPS). The survey includes CES-D(the Center for Epidemiological Studies' Depression) scales and the items which measure social support and self-esteem. We classified employment status into four categories: permanent workers, temporary workers, the self-employed and the unemployed. The results indicated that employment status was significantly related to depression and showed that the lower levels of self-esteem and income among temporary workers were the two main factors which accounted for the higher level of depression among them, compared to permanent workers. The lower level of social support among temporary workers also contributed to the difference in depression. The higher level of depression among the self-employed, compared to permanent workers, was substantially explained by income and self-esteem. The higher level of depression among the unemployed, compared to permanent workers, was substantially explained by self-esteem and income. This study elucidated the mechanisms that mediate the relationship between employment status and depression.
