Milken Institute School of Public Health Poster Presentations (Marvin Center & Video)
Document Type
Poster
Status
Graduate Student - Doctoral
Abstract Category
Prevention and Community Health
Keywords
Korean immigrants, Korean Protestant church, mental health, work performance
Publication Date
Spring 2019
Abstract
This sequential mixed methods study measured the effects of spiritual experience and church commitment on mental health and work performance among a sample of South Korean immigrants in the United States. It included the screening survey for assessing level of religious belief and involvement in church activities (quantitative) followed by in-depth qualitative interviews about the relationship between church attachment and mental health as well as work/school performance (qualitative), in order to obtain preliminary findings and generate insights regarding future research. High-active believers who engage in church activities were assigned as Group 1, and inactive/low-active members who still have high-level belief were assigned as Group 2. Both Group 1 and Group 2 contained strong believers, and the screening survey proved that the level of belief were not much different between two groups. There was no guarantee that time dedication for church would improve Group 1's work/school performance because they were suffering from a time conflict between work and church activities and could not focus their energy on one thing. However, there was no doubt that their strong belief was a prime motivation to work or study harder as well as the main factor of developing their mental health and common well-being -- though in fact many reported a negative association between intense church involvement and at least some aspects of mental health. This study can serve as a guide to further research on specific factors potentially associated with mental health and social adjustment for Koreans, as well as other immigrants. Specifically, insights from this study shed light on potential elements of religious belief and practice that are related to mental health and work/school outcomes, and on the range of reasons that individuals participate in church. There may be some linkages between the demographics of Group 1 and Group 2 participants that influence level of participation in church activities, but there are not enough data from this study to support any conclusions on that issue.
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The effects of spiritual experience and church commitment on mental health and work performance among a sample of South Korean immigrants in the United States: a mixed methods study
This sequential mixed methods study measured the effects of spiritual experience and church commitment on mental health and work performance among a sample of South Korean immigrants in the United States. It included the screening survey for assessing level of religious belief and involvement in church activities (quantitative) followed by in-depth qualitative interviews about the relationship between church attachment and mental health as well as work/school performance (qualitative), in order to obtain preliminary findings and generate insights regarding future research. High-active believers who engage in church activities were assigned as Group 1, and inactive/low-active members who still have high-level belief were assigned as Group 2. Both Group 1 and Group 2 contained strong believers, and the screening survey proved that the level of belief were not much different between two groups. There was no guarantee that time dedication for church would improve Group 1's work/school performance because they were suffering from a time conflict between work and church activities and could not focus their energy on one thing. However, there was no doubt that their strong belief was a prime motivation to work or study harder as well as the main factor of developing their mental health and common well-being -- though in fact many reported a negative association between intense church involvement and at least some aspects of mental health. This study can serve as a guide to further research on specific factors potentially associated with mental health and social adjustment for Koreans, as well as other immigrants. Specifically, insights from this study shed light on potential elements of religious belief and practice that are related to mental health and work/school outcomes, and on the range of reasons that individuals participate in church. There may be some linkages between the demographics of Group 1 and Group 2 participants that influence level of participation in church activities, but there are not enough data from this study to support any conclusions on that issue.
Comments
Presented at Research Days 2019.