COVID-19 Induced Changes in Hygiene, Psychological Factors, Physical Activity and Perceptions of The Health Care System Among Age Groups in South Korea

The purpose of this study was to examine changes in perceptions of hygiene, psychological factors, physical activity, and the health care system after COVID-19 by age among adults in South Korea.We recruited 115 adults living in South Korea in their 20s to 60s.They were surveyed using an online questionnaire.Multiple regression analysis showed that age after COVID-19 was a factor influencing Handwashing Infection Prevention Awareness (HIPA) and stress (p<0.05).In terms of changes in perceptions by age due to the COVID-19 pandemic, those in their 60s showed statistically significant differences in hygiene (physical distance, social, relationship, Mask-Wearing Time (MWT), HIPA, and Hand Washing Frequency (HWF) and behavior (exercise, exercise time, exercise frequency, stress level, stress reduction efforts, and anxiety) before and after COVID-19 (p<0.05).In the 50s, there were differences between pre-and post-COVID-19 in hygiene (wearing a mask, MWT) and behavior (anxiety, efforts to reduce anxiety) (p<0.05).In the 40s, there were significant differences between preand post-COVID-19 in hygiene (COVID-19 physical distance, COVID-19 social relationships, maskwearing, MWT, HIPA, HWF), behavior (stress level, anxiety), and medical care (medical help (p<0.05).In the 30s, there were differences in hygiene (COVID-19 physical distance, COVID-19 social relationships, mask-wearing, MWT, and HWF), behavior (stress level, sleep duration, anxiety), and health care (perceived risk of COVID-19, intensity of concern about COVID-19 sequelae) (p<0.05).In the 20s, there were differences in hygiene (MWT) and behavior (anxiety) between before and after .This study showed that the older the age group, the greater the change in perception of hygiene, behavior (psychological factors and physical activity), and health system.There were differences in perception of the COVID-19 pandemic according to age.