Purpose: This study aimed to identify the mediating effects of depression amid the influence of fear and social distancing arising from
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Korean women’s suicidal ideation. Methods: A descriptive correlation study was conducted.
Study participants, recruited by Hankook Research from March 2 to March 5, 2021, included 300 women aged 19 to 49 living in South
Korea, and 100 people were randomly allocated and enlisted for each age group out of 700,000 Hankook Research Panels recruited in
advance from 17 cities and provinces nationwide. Data were collected through a self-reported questionnaire and analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Hayes’ Process Macro Model 4 with 95% bias-corrected bootstrap confidence interval via SPSS statistics 27.0. Results: Suicidal ideation was significantly correlated with fear of COVID-19 (r = .16, p = .006) and depression (r = .65, p < .001). The mediation effect of depression in the relationship between the fear of COVID-19 and suicidal ideation was found to be significant(B = 0.40, boot 95% CI: 0.21~0.61). However, social distancing did not significantly affect suicidal ideation via depression (B = - 0.79, boot 95% CI: - 1.94~0.26). Conclusion: It is necessary to develop and apply interventions to prevent depression and suicidal behaviors by continuously observing and reducing the negative psychological responses caused by COVID-19.