Analyzing Mental Health Shifts Among Migrant Workers in Korea: A Comparative Study During and Post the COVID-19 Era

In the midst of a pandemic like COVID-19, migrant workers are highly vulnerable to the risk of mental health challenges and disorders. This study aimed to examine the variations in mental health and associated factors among migrant workers in Korea during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 830 migrant workers were included in this quantitative population-based study across two distinct COVID-19 periods: 415 from August 15, 2020 to January 20, 2021 (termed "during COVID-19" post-WHO pandemic declaration) and 415 from June 10 to September 18, 2023 (termed "after COVID-19" post-WHO and Korean Government announcement of the end COVID-19 as a global health emergency). The mental health of migrants was assessed using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 for anxiety, and compared between the two defined COVID-19 periods. Migrant workers exhibited higher means of depression (15.99 ± 5.16 vs. 8.78 ± 5.77) and anxiety (11.02 ± 4.45 vs. 6.97 ± 4.42) during the COVID-19 compared to after the COVID-19. The prevalence of severe depression (30.4% vs. 8.2%, <i>p</i> = .038) and severe anxiety (24.1% vs. 5.3%, <i>p</i> = .047) was significantly higher during the COVID-19 than after the pandemic. Changes in the mean depression scores among migrants were significantly influenced by living status (0.12 ± 11.10, <i>p</i> = .030) and employment status (0.44 ± 10.33, <i>p</i> = .043), while changes in mean anxiety scores were influenced by social relief funds (2.88 ± 8.61, <i>p</i> = .046) and employment status (1.13 ± 8.39, <i>p</i> = .012). This study highlights the increased susceptibility of migrant workers to depression and anxiety during COVID-19 compared to after the pandemic. Thus, it is imperative to prioritize the expansion of social support funds, ensure employment stability, and implement regular health check-up services to reduce mental health disorders among migrants.