Evaluating the Effectiveness of Psychoeducational Approach for Treating Depression among Mongolian Migrants in South Korea = Evaluating the Effectiveness of Psychoeducational Approach for Treating Depression among Mongolian Migrants in South Korea

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

ABSTRACT
Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health issues, and it is the number one cause of disability worldwide. Early and effective intervention is essential because of the high rate of recurrence and suicide risk of depression. Migrant populations are particularly vulnerable to depression, and the prevalence of depression among them is much higher than in non-migrant populations. Even though migration increases globally, access to mental health services is still limited for migrants despite the socioeconomic development of the host country.
Mongolian migrants in Korea constitute the largest Mongolian diaspora outside Mongolia. However, they are one of the most understudied groups regarding mental health, and the prevalence of depression among them has never been documented in previous studies. When Mongolian migrants face mental health challenges, such as depression, most of them cannot get mental health care and services because of financial difficulties and language barriers. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the prevalence of depression among Mongolian migrants and evaluate the effectiveness of a psychoeducational approach for treating depression in this population.
The prevalence rate was assessed during the psychoeducational workshops for the larger audience (n=92) using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Then, participants (n=6) with mild to severe levels of depression continued to participate in the eight-week group counseling intervention. Also, other participants (n=6) with mild to severe levels of depression were chosen to become members of the control group to compare the experimental group outcomes. The group counseling program was adapted from the CBT-based BEAST (Body, Emotion, Activity, Situation, Thoughts) model for individual counseling, integrated with spirituality, and modified to the extended BEAST(S) (S = Spirituality) model for group counseling.
Findings indicated the prevalence of depression among Mongolian migrants in Korea is 22.8%, and it is higher than general population rates, similar to other migrant populations. As a quasi-experimental pilot study, the research conducted in-group and between-group comparisons of the experimental and control groups based on their pre- and post-BDI-II scores. Paired t-test analyses confirmed a statistically significant reduction in depressive symptoms in the experimental group (t = 7.23, p-value = 0.0008), while the control group showed no significant change (t = 1.83, p-value = 0.13). In the experimental group, 66.7% of participants achieved a Minimum Clinically Important Difference (MCID), whereas the control group showed no clinically meaningful change.
In conclusion, these findings suggest that the Psychoeducational approach can be a practical and effective method to reduce depressive symptoms among migrants, especially where mental health professionals are scarce, and culturally and linguistically appropriate interventions are limited. Educational workshops and psychoeducational group counseling sessions teach participants the essential knowledge of mental health and equip them with practical tools to help cope and prevent depression or manage depression when it recurs. This approach may offer a potentially sustainable intervention beyond the impact of a single therapeutic course. This study contributes to the limited research on the mental health of Mongolian migrants and underscores the importance of community-based interventions that can be further studied and implemented in practice.

Keywords: Depression, Prevalence of Depression, Migrant population, Mongolian migrants, Psychoeducational Approach, BEAST model, Group counseling

목차 (Table of Contents)

• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• TABLE OF CONTENTS i
• LISTS OF TABLES, FIGURES, AND APPENDICES v
• ACKNOWLEDGMENT vii
• ABSTRACT IN ENGLISH ix
• CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION 1
• 1.1 Introduction and Background 1
• 1.2 Statement of the Problem 3
• 1.3 Purpose of the Study 4
• 1.4 Research Questions and Hypothesis 6
• 1.5 Theoretical and Conceptual Framework 7
• 1.6 Significance of the Study 8
• 1.7 Scope and Delimitations 9
• 1.8 Organization of the Dissertation 9
• CHAPTER II. LITERATURE REVIEW 11
• 2.1 Introduction to Chapter 11
• 2.2 Understanding Depression: Epidemiology, Diagnostic Criteria, and Assessment 12
• 2.2.1 Definitions, Prevalence, and Global Burden of Depression 13
• 2.2.2 Diagnostic Criteria and Assessment of Depression (BDI-II) 17
• 2.3 Depression among the Migrant Populations 22
• 2.3.1 Mental Health Challenges of the Migrant Populations 23
• 2.3.2 Prevalence and Risk Factors of Depression among Migrants 30
• 2.4 Theological Foundations of Depression and Therapeutic Role of
• Spirituality 36
• 2.4.1 Theological Perspectives on Depression 37
• 2.4.2 Spirituality and Its Relationship to Mental Health 43
• 2.4.3 Spirituality and Traditional Healing Practices in Mongolian
• Cultural and Religious Contexts 47
• 2.5 Psychoeducational Approach to Treating Depression in Migrants 54
• 2.5.1 Overview of Psychoeducation 55
• 2.5.2 Psychoeducation in the Context of Depression Treatment 56
• 2.5.3 Effectiveness of Psychoeducation for Migrants with
• Depression 61
• 2.6 The Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) based BEAST(S) Model
• for Group Counseling 63
• 2.6.1 Introduction to CBT in Group Counseling 63
• 2.6.2 Conceptual Overview and Modification of the BEAST(S)
• Model in Group Counseling 67
• 2.6.3 The Application of Spirituality in the BEAST(S) Model 70
• 2.7 Summary and Research Gaps 73
• CHAPTER III. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES 76
• 3.1 Introduction to Chapter 76
• 3.2 Research Background 77
• 3.3 Research Design 79
• 3.3.1 Main Components of the Research 79
• 3.3.2 Justification of Research Design 80
• 3.4 Participants and Sampling 82
• 3.4.1 The Phase 1: Training Workshop Participants 82
• 3.4.2 The Phase 2: Group Counseling Participants 83
• 3.4.3 Ethical Considerations 85
• 3.5 Intervention Description 86
• 3.5.1 Overview and Structure of Group Counseling 87
• 3.5.2 Theoretical Foundations of the Intervention 91
• 3.5.3 Session Format and Delivery 101
• 3.6 Data Collection 103
• 3.6.1 The Phase 1: Training Workshop and Initial Data Collection 104
• 3.6.2 The Phase 2: Group Counseling Intervention Study 105
• 3.7 Data Analysis 106
• 3.8 Summary of Chapter 108
• CHAPTER IV. RESULTS OF THE STUDY 110
• 4.1 Introduction to Chapter 110
• 4.2 Descriptive Statistics of the Psychoeducational Training Workshops 111
• 4.2.1 Participants Overview 111
• 4.2.2 Description of BDI-II Scores of Participants 113
• 4.2.3 Knowledge Improvement 115
• 4.2.4 Opinions on the Necessity of Training 117
• 4.2.5 Further Intervention 118
• 4.3 Outcomes of the Group Counseling Intervention 120
• 4.3.1 Selection and Recruitment of Experimental and
• Control Groups 121
• 4.3.2 Descriptive Analysis of the BDI-II Scores Within and
• Between Groups 123
• 4.3.3 Participant Attendance and Feedback on Group Counseling 133
• 4.4 Summary of the Results 136
• CHAPTER V. DISCUSSION 139
• 5.1 Introduction to Chapter 139
• 5.2 Interpretation of Key Findings 140
• 5.2.1 The Training Workshop Outcomes and Prevalence of Depression 141
• 5.2.2 Group Counseling Outcomes and the Effectiveness of
• the Intervention 146
• 5.3 Limitations and Recommendations 155
• 5.4 Summary of Chapter 156
• CHAPTER VI. CONCLUSION 158
• 6.1 Introduction of Chapter 158
• 6.2 Summary of the Key Findings 157
• 6.3 Limitations and Recommendations of the Future Study 162
• 6.4 Contribution of the Study and Suggestions for Future Application 164
• 6.5 Summary of Chapter 166
• REFERENCES 167
• APPENDICES 182
• ABSTRACT IN KOREAN 247