Key Word Analysis Study on Depression and Anxiety Using Social Big Data During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Korea

Objectives: In this study, we analyzed the key words 'depression' and 'anxiety' using big data during various periods of the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea. Methods: We divided the CORONA-19 time into 5 periods based on the progression of superinfection events. Key words related to 'depression' and 'anxiety' were subjected to key word network analysis. Results: Although the pandemic persisted, the key word 'depression' garnered significant interest during the initial phases, but this interest waned over time. Conversely, interest in the 'anxiety' key word exhibited an increase. Key words relating to the identification and alleviation of depression and anxiety symptoms demonstrated an uptick, signifying a heightened concern for mental health problems. The term 'mind' emerged as a recurrently associated key word with both 'depression' and 'anxiety' in the preceding period. Noteworthy key words in the network analysis for 'anxiety' and 'depression' encompassed 'corona,' 'thought,' 'problem,' and 'state,' with 'corona' exhibiting connections to other key words through various aspects of our lives. Conclusion: The outcomes illustrate fluctuations in public interest concerning 'depression' and 'anxiety' in accordance with distinct phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, shedding light on their associations with pertinent terms. These findings serve as fundamental social health data, enabling the identification of the patterns through which depression and anxiety have spread during the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea.