Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the trajectory of depressive symptoms among aged 20 years adults and examine the direct and indirect pathway linking socioeconomic status(education attainment, household income, occupation), alcohol use and depressive symptoms.
It particularly focused on whether alcohol use would mediate the relationship between socioeconomic status and depressive symptoms.
Methods: This study analysed 13,763 households of Korean Welfare Panel Study 1st, 2nd, 3rd data using Latent Growth Curve Modeling.
Results: The results showed that study participants tend to decrease depressive symptoms with years. Similar to the findings of the previous studies, education attainment and household income among the socioeconomic status factors effected directly depressive symptoms and indirectly by mediating alcohol volume controlling sex and age. Conclusions: Based on findings of this study, the policy and practical implications were discussed.