Factors affecting depression in high school students with chronic illness: A nationwide cross-sectional study in...

Chronic illnesses have been associated with poor mental health and depression. Given the fact that a large number of adolescents are suffering from chronic illnesses in South Korea, it is important to identify factors that contribute to depression in this population so that appropriate interventions can be developed. In order to achieve this aim, a large-scale, nationwide, cross-sectional study was performed. The study used data obtained from the 2016 Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey which included first-year high school students diagnosed with one or more of the following chronic illnesses: asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. A multiple regression analysis revealed that female, poor school adjustment, social withdrawal, low subjective health status, low self-esteem, and a shorter duration of exercise during physical education classes were significant predictors of depression. Thus, depression in adolescents with chronic illness seems to be closely linked to social, physical, and academic factors. These findings may aid the development of appropriate intervention programs that specifically target these factors for this vulnerable population.