Background
Physical inactivity and sedentary behavior influence the prevalence of anxiety disorders. However, there is a lack of research on how these factors affect Korean adults. Therefore, we conducted a large-scale cohort study to investigate the association of physical activity and sedentary behavior with the development of anxiety disorders.
Methods
This cross-sectional study included 5,615 Korean adults aged 19 years and over. This study analyzed data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VIII (2021). Participants were divided into three groups based on sedentary time (minute per day), and anxiety levels were compared using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale.
Results
The odds ratio (OR) for severe generalized anxiety disorder was higher in the longer sedentary time group (≥480 & <660 minutes and ≥660 minutes) than in the lowest sedentary time group (<480 minutes) (≥480 & <660 minutes: OR, 1.004; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.463–2.178; ≥660 minutes: OR, 2.233; 95% CI, 1.385–3.599; P=0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, these correlations remained consistent and statistically significant. Furthermore, subgroup analysis revealed that middle-aged adults, women, high school graduates, individuals living with housemates, and employed individuals had a stronger association with severe anxiety as sitting time increased.
Conclusion
Sitting for more than 11 hours a day is a significant risk factor for the development of severe anxiety. Incorporating regular walking into daily routines and reducing sedentary behaviors could alleviate anxiety in Korean adults.

Citations

• Association between sedentary behaviour, sleep duration, physical activity and mental health among teachers in China during COVID-19: a cross- sectional study
  Yexin Ma, Yuntao Xu, Liyou Wu, Jiabao Guo, Binglin Chen
  Frontiers in Public Health.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef

Background
Depression is a prevalent mental health disorder that presents substantial public health challenges. Emerging evidence underscores the role of dietary patterns in mitigating depressive symptoms. This study investigated the association between diet quality, assessed using the Recommended Food Score (RFS), and depressive symptoms, evaluated with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), in a sample of Korean adults.
Methods
This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 19,786 participants recruited from a general hospital in Korea, all of whom completed the RFS and PHQ-9 assessments. General characteristics and anthropometric indices were recorded. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests and binary logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals for depressive symptoms according to RFS scores, adjusting for potential confounders.
Results
Higher RFS scores were associated with reduced odds of depression in univariate (OR, 0.59; P<0.001) and multivariate (OR, 0.72; P<0.001) analyses. Sociodemographic factors, including older age, higher education, marital status, higher income, professional occupation, and regular exercise, were linked to decreased odds of depression. Conversely, female sex, current smoking, and alcohol consumption were associated with increased odds.
Conclusion
The findings reveal an inverse relationship between diet quality and depressive symptoms among Korean adults, emphasizing the potential of dietary improvements in mental health promotion. Sociodemographic factors significantly influence depression risk. Future studies should adopt longitudinal designs incorporating a wider range of variables to elucidate these complex interactions.

Citations

• A year of significant progress for the Korean Journal of Family Medicine
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2026; 47(1): 1.     CrossRef

Background
Recent studies have reported that chronic mental health problems often emerge in young adulthood. This study elucidated the independent effects of smoking and drinking on depressed mood in young adults by sex.
Methods
We used Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys conducted in 2014, 2016, and 2018. A total of 3,391 participants aged 19–35 years, without serious chronic diseases, were recruited for this study. Depression was evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).
Results
Smoking behavior, current smoking, and number of days smoked were significantly associated with higher PHQ-9 scores in both men and women (all P<0.05). However, past and ever smoking were positively associated with PHQ-9 scores only in women (all P<0.001). Regarding alcohol consumption, the age at which drinking first began was negatively associated with PHQ-9 scores in both men and women (all P<0.001), but the amount of alcohol consumed at 1 time was positively associated with PHQ-9 scores only in women (P=0.013). Men who drank 2–4 times a month and women who had not drunk during the past year had the lowest PHQ-9 scores.
Conclusion
Smoking and alcohol consumption were independently associated with depressed mood in young Korean adults, which was more pronounced in women, and exhibited sex-specific characteristics.

Citations

• Articles published in Korean Journal of Family Medicine: impact of COVID-19 on study trends
  Byung Ho Kong, Jae Kyung Choi, San-Sung Lee, Ji Young Kim
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(5): 316.     CrossRef
• Comparison of Depression-related Factors among Young Adults Pre- and Post-COVID-19: Focusing on the Early Pandemic Period
  So Hyun Kim
  Journal of Health Informatics and Statistics.2025; 50(4): 370.     CrossRef
• Women’s Health and Primary Care
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(1): 1.     CrossRef
• Pharmacotherapy guidelines for smoking cessation in primary healthcare clinics
  Cheol Min Lee, Yu Jin Paek, Yoo Bin Seo, Eon Sook Lee
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 230.     CrossRef