Changes in High-Risk Depressive Symptoms and Related Factors Among Middle-Aged Single-Person Households: A Comparison of the Pre-, During-, and Post–COVID-19 Periods

Key Points

• This research aims to analyze the prevalence changes of high-risk depressive symptoms and related factors among middle-aged single-person households across the COVID-19 periods.
• Utilized community health survey data from 2018, 2020, and 2024 for a repeated cross-sectional study.
• Conducted cross-analysis and logistic regression reflecting complex sample design.
• Examined variations in high-risk depressive symptoms and socioeconomic factors over different COVID-19 phases.
• The prevalence of high-risk depressive symptoms increased during the pandemic.
• Some demographics did not completely recover from high-risk levels post-pandemic.
• Higher risk was noted among non-economically active individuals in 2018 and 2024, with no group differences in 2020.
• Significant associations were found with gender, household income, subjective health status, stress perception, and mental health counseling experiences.