Impact of COVID-19 Countermeasures on South Korean Citizens’ Behavior and Psychological Changes: An Online Survey Between the First Waves of the Pandemic

Abstract

This study analyzed behavioral changes in South Korean individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic due to movement restrictions and examined their psychological effects. Attributes considered include age and gender, place of residence, and characteristics of the residential environment and communities they came into contact with, which are considered important factors in individuals’ psychological changes. The results showed that in terms of psychological change, the negative effects were more significant for attributes such as age and gender than for spatial characteristics such as residential area and type of residence. In addition, depression was found in specific gender and age groups. In particular, those in their 20s were found to be more depressed than those in their 30s and 40s, even though they were less prone infection with COVID-19 than older adults. Through the findings of this study, we have discovered materials and factors that should be taken into account when preparing policies to limit the motion of people in circumstances similar to a pandemic.