Abstract
This study investigated change in depression and revealed factors related to change using one-year follow-up data. A sample of 108 North Korean Refugee Youths (NKRYs) aged 13 to 26 years (66 females) was recruited from two alternative schools for NKRYs in South Korea. Based on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale cut-off score of 16, respondents were grouped based on change in depression score after one year as stable low, alleviated, deteriorated, or prolonged. Multinomial logistic regression assessed the influence of baseline psychological scores (resilience, emotional regulation strategy, and self-esteem), and reported social support (psychological/practical) on the odds of group classification. With the stable low group as the reference category, those with alleviated depression at Time 2 had significantly higher odds of expressive suppression and tended to have lower self-esteem at Time 1. The deteriorated depression group was more likely than the stable low group to have lower resilience and cognitive appraisal scores. Those with prolonged high depression were more likely than the stable low group to have lower resilience, less practical social support, and lower self-esteem. Psychological interventions, particularly those focused on increasing self-esteem and resilience, could be helpful for NKRYs with potential risk of depression. In addition, practical support should be provided on an as-needed basis to prevent chronic depression among NKRYs.
Highlights
According to Ministry of Unification [1], in 2018, an estimated 32,476 North Korean refugees (NKRs) had settled in South Korea, about 40% of which were children and young adults aged 10 to 29
The deteriorated depression group was more likely than the stable low depression group to have low resilience and low cognitive reappraisal at T1
The respondents with prolonged depression were more likely than the stable low group to have low resilience, low self-esteem, and perceive low practical support at T1
Summary
According to Ministry of Unification [1], in 2018, an estimated 32,476 North Korean refugees (NKRs) had settled in South Korea, about 40% of which were children and young adults aged 10 to 29. NKRs are likely to have had traumatic experiences, such as compulsory confinement, arrests and detainments, witnessing people die of starvation, witnessing public executions or accidents, or being deported to North Korea [2]. NKRYs have reported a variety of traumatic experiences while they were in North Korea and on their way to South Korea [3]. Depression, which is a psychological symptom of maladjustment, is a key indicator used to assess the mental health of immigrants and refugees [6], and it is one of the most common maladjustment problems of NKRs [7]. Because childhood depression might cause psychosocial and other problems in adulthood, it might be associated with a huge social
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