J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs.  2018 Jun;27(2):159-169. 10.12934/jkpmhn.2018.27.2.159.

Systematic Review of Mental Health Interventions Designed for Multicultural Children and Adolescents in South Korea

• Lee YM
• Choi H

• KMID: 2415249
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2018.27.2.159

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to review intervention programs designed to promote mental health in multicultural children and adolescents living in Korea.
METHODS
A systematic search with key words in Korean and English was conducted using 9 electronic databases. Twelve studies were included in the sample for systematic review and the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Study (MINORS) was used to assess methodological rigor and quality of scientific evidence.
RESULTS
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were used in 3 and quasi-experimental designs in nine studies. Interventions utilizing art therapy were found to be effective in improving school adjustment in these children, and in decreasing levels of depression and anxiety. Learning activities and self-image were not found to be effective. In all 12 studies discussion of the theory guiding the intervention was not included and all 12 studies were rated as having a high risk of bias based on MINORS criteria.
CONCLUSION
Findings provide a basis for developing intervention programs to improve mental health in multicultural children and adolescents. Core strategies for promoting mental health in these children and adolescents include access to age and situational characteristics. For intervention effects, development of programs to improve self-esteem and resilience is important.

Keyword

Cultural diversity; Child; Adolescent; Mental health; Intervention

MeSH Terms

Adolescent*
Anxiety
Art Therapy
Bias (Epidemiology)
Child*
Cultural Diversity
Depression
Humans
Korea*
Learning
Mental Health*

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 PRISMA flow chart of study selection.

Reference

1. Lee JY, Kim YS. 2015 multicultural population dynamic statistics. Statistics Korea News [Internet]. 2016. 11. 16. 1-42. Available from: http://kostat.go.kr/portal/korea/kor_nw/3/index.board?bmode=read&aSeq=357477&pageNo=&rowNum=10&amSeq=&sTarget=&sTxt.

2. Whang JW. Status of multicultural students in Korea. Educ Dev. 2016; 9(197):117–121.

3. Park SH. The characteristics and social adjustment in children of multicultural families. J Korean Soc Child Welf. 2009; 29:125–154.

4. Oh SB. A study of the instance of opportunities of education and its alternative policy for ethnic minorities' children born in intermarriage homes. J Hum Stud. 2007; 12:33–56.

5. Jung HS, Kim YS, Lee TM, Ma KH, Choi YJ, Park GP, et al. 2015 fact-finding survey on multicultural families. Research Report. Seoul: Ministry of Gender Equality and Family;2016. 01. Report No. 2016-03.

6. Lee WR. A review on emotional and behavioral problems and related variables of children from multi-cultural families. J Emot Behav Disord. 2013; 29(3):409–431.

7. Jang DH, Shin HS. The environmental factors on the school maladjustment of children from multicultural families. Korean J Youth Stud. 2010; 17(3):123–147.

8. Yeum MJ. A study on influencing factors on the mental health of school children in multicultural families [master's thesis]. [Seoul]: The Catholic University of Korea;2011. 71.

9. Jung SA, Yang JY, Choi ES. The effect of emotional and social-skill improvement program on self-esteem, peer relational skill and emotional-behavioral problems for multicultural children. J Play Ther. 2014; 18(3):49–67.

10. Yang GM, Shin HO, Park JH. Longitudinal study in the policy for multicultural adolescentsII. Research Report. Sejong: National Youth Policy Institute;2014. 12. Report No. 14-R16.

11. Choi EJ, Kim MS, Jeon J. A study on supporting for mental health promotion of children and adolescents III. Research Report. Sejong: National Youth Policy Institute;2013. 12. Report No. 13-R16-1.

12. Kim SY, Park JE, Seo HJ, Lee YJ, Jang BH, Son HJ, et al. NECA's guidance for undertaking systematic reviews and meta-analyses for intervention. First ed. Seoul: NECA;2011. p. 271. National evidence based healthcare collaboration agency.

13. Slim K, Nini E, Forestier D, Kwiatkowski F, Panis Y, Chipponi J. Methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS): development and validation of a new instrument. ANZ J Surg. 2003; 73(9):712–716. DOI: 10.1046/j.1445-2197.2003.02748.x.

14. Won J, Shin YH, Park HS, Park H, Lim SH, Shin MK, et al. Quality assessment of non-randomized studies in the journal of Korean fundamentals of nursing. J Korean Acad Fundam Nurs. 2014; 21(3):311–318. DOI: 10.7739/jkafn.2014.21.3.311.

15. Lee SM, Lee SH. The effective of adaptability program to school for lower grades students of elementary school in multicultural family. Korean J Couns. 2009; 10(4):2273–2286. DOI: 10.15703/kjc.10.4.200912.2273.

16. Yeum SH, Shin H, Oh S. The effects of a social skills group-training program on social skills, negative automatic thoughts, and stress in international couples' children. Korean J Clin Psychol. 2010; 29(3):853–873. DOI: 10.15842/kjcp.2010.29.3.012.

17. Kim IS, Lee KH. An effect of dance and movement therapy (DMT) on psychosocial adjustment of multicultural children. J Arts Psychother. 2011; 7(4):57–73.

18. Lee HJ, Chang SJ. The effects of group art therapy for improving ego-resilience of children in multicultural families. Korean Journal of Art Therapy. 2012; 19(4):837–858.

19. Shin SS. Effect of school adjustment program for elementary school students from multicultural families' ego-identity, peer relationship and degree of satisfaction with their school lives. J Educ Res. 2012; 10(4):459–481.

20. Kim HS, Yu H, Nam S. Development of group counselling program for the ability of interpersonal relation of multicultural students of the higher grades of elementary school. Korean J Teach Educ. 2014; 30(3):177–195.

21. Nam JS. The effects of a fine art cure program on the school life adjustment of the elementary school children from multiple-culture families: quantitative study. J Korean Clin Health Sci. 2014; 2(2):107–118. DOI: 10.15205/kschs.2014.2.2.107.

22. Park EM. The effect of the multicultural youth resilience improvement program on self-esteem and self-expression. Korean J Hum Dev. 2015; 22(1):37–54. DOI: 10.15284/kjhd.2015.22.1.37.

23. Jeong JS. A study on the development of virtue-associated art therapy program for multicultural children's school adjustment. J Arts Psychother. 2016; 12(2):23–48.

24. Lee H, Park K, Song M. Effect of formative artistic activities using objets on self-esteem and pro-social behavior in children of multi-cultural families. J Korea Soc Art Des. 2016; 19(2):87–110.

25. Oh SH, Hwang EY, Jun YM. An analysis on the effect of music activities on reduction of depression and change of self-concept of children from multi-cultural family. J Arts Psychother. 2016; 12(3):203–225.

26. Yoon SY, Kang KS. The effects of song psychotherapy on the acculturation stress and self-esteem of children from multi-cultural families: pilot study. Korean J Music Ther. 2016; 18(2):119–138. DOI: 10.21330/kjmt.2016.18.2.119.

27. Kim AY, Kim SI. Comparisons of psychological factors related to school adjustment between children from international marriage families and from general families. Korean J Educ Psychol. 2011; 25(4):853–873.

28. Kim AK. Social behavior in children and early adolescents: relationships to communication with parents, self-esteem, and depression. Korean J Child Stud. 2001; 22(3):271–285.

29. Kim HO. Effect of children's social network on self-perceived competence, ego-resiliency and psychological well-being [dissertation]. [Seoul]: Dongduk Women's University;2010. 164.