Efficacy of a Culturally Tailored Therapeutic Intervention Program for Community Dwelling Depressed Korean American Women: A Non-Randomized Quasi-Experimental Design Study

Background: Asian American women are more prone to suffer from depression compared to their non-Asian American counterparts and have lower rates of seeking mental healthcare services due to lack of available culturally appropriate therapies. Two prior studies of a culturally tailored therapeutic intervention called LogoAutobiography were helpful in treating depressed Korean American women. The LogoAutobiography program was revised to enhance its efficacy not only for depressive symptoms and purpose in life but also to increase coping strategies. Objectives: To test the efficacy of the Enhanced LogoAutobiography program on depressive symptoms, purpose in life, and coping strategies of depressed community-dwelling Korean American women. Design: Two-group, non-randomized quasi-experimental design. Settings: Local Korean community areas located in New York City and eastern New Jersey of the United States. Participants: A total of 54 depressed women with Korean heritage completed either experimental group (n(1) = 25) or control group (n(2) = 29). Sample inclusion criteria were adult women with Korean heritage, depressive symptoms as measured by a CES-D score 16 or higher, fluent Korean language, and able to participate independently. Sample exclusion criteria were those who presented active suicidal ideation and history of episodes of mania or psychosis screened by the psychosocial survey questionnaire. Methods: The experimental group received Enhanced Logo-Autobiography program which was guided by a facilitator who used a manualized intervention for 90 minute sessions over 8 weeks; the control group attended routine weekly community activities. Data were collected during the first session (pretest), the end of 8 weeks (posttest), and the 3 months follow-up session. Time and group changes in depressive symptoms, purpose in life, and coping strategies were computed using Repeated Measures General Linear Model (RMGLM). Results: Findings suggested that the experimental group showed greater improvement in depressive symptoms (F = 6.94 (2, 88), p < 0.01), active cognitive coping (F = 5.07 (2, 86), p < 0.01), and avoidance coping strategies (F = 3.48 (2, 86), p < 0.05) compared to the control group during the three time intervals. Purpose in life showed statistically significant Time and Group effects (F = 5.18 (2, 88), p < 0.01; F = 9.44 (2, 88),p < 0.01, respectively), but no significant interaction effect of Time and Group was detected. Conclusion: These findings suggest that enhanced LogoAutobiography is effective for depressive symptoms and coping strategies and somewhat effective for improving purpose in life for depressed Korean American women. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.