Volume 32, Issue 1 (3-2025)
RJMS 2025, 32(1): 1-12 |
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Research code: 01
Ethics code: 01
Clinical trials code: 01
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Abbasi T, Akbari A, Nejat H, Saffarian tosi M, Samari A A. The Impact of Migration Grief Intervention Based on Complicated Grief Psychotherapy on Improving Self-Efficacy and Reducing Depression in Migrant Children. RJMS 2025; 32 (1) :1-12
URL: http://rjms.iums.ac.ir/article-1-8961-en.html
URL: http://rjms.iums.ac.ir/article-1-8961-en.html
Department of Consulting Sciences, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran , Akabaria.180@gmail.com
Abstract: (984 Views)
Background & Aims: Migration is one of the most significant social phenomena of the modern era, affecting millions of individuals and families across the globe. While migration may provide new opportunities for economic advancement, education, and safety, it is also frequently accompanied by challenges that disrupt personal, social, and psychological well-being. These challenges are particularly pronounced among children, who are still in the formative stages of emotional and cognitive development and may lack the psychological resources necessary to adapt to such profound life transitions. For children, migration is not simply a change of geographical location; it often involves the painful separation from extended family, familiar cultural traditions, and established peer networks. Such separations may give rise to a distinct form of grief referred to as “migration grief,” which mirrors the characteristics of bereavement and complicated grief but is specifically tied to the losses associated with relocation. The experience of migration grief in children can manifest in a variety of emotional and behavioral difficulties, including sadness, withdrawal, loss of motivation, and impaired academic performance. Furthermore, migrant children are often exposed to additional stressors, such as language barriers, cultural adjustment, experiences of discrimination, and reduced access to social support networks in the host country. These factors collectively heighten the risk of developing mental health issues, most notably depression. Depression among migrant children is not merely a transient emotional state but can evolve into a persistent condition that undermines their overall development, social integration, and long-term well-being. Another critical psychological construct affected by migration is self-efficacy, which refers to an individual’s belief in their ability to manage tasks, challenges, and adversities. Self-efficacy serves as a cornerstone of resilience, influencing motivation, coping strategies, and problem-solving abilities. For migrant children, low self-efficacy can exacerbate feelings of helplessness and alienation, making it difficult to adapt to new environments and achieve developmental milestones. Thus, interventions that both alleviate depression and strengthen self-efficacy are essential to promoting healthy adjustment and integration. In recent years, therapeutic approaches addressing grief have shown promise in mitigating psychological distress. Complicated Grief Therapy (CGT) has been specifically designed to help individuals process unresolved grief and foster adaptive coping. When adapted to the context of migration, Migration Complicated Grief Therapy (MCGT) offers a structured intervention to help children navigate the unique challenges of loss and adaptation inherent in the migration process. Despite the relevance of such interventions, there has been limited research exploring their effectiveness in child migrant populations. The present study addresses this gap by examining the impact of MCGT on enhancing self-efficacy and reducing depression among migrant children.
Methods: This study was quasi-experimental and applied in terms of purpose, and descriptive in terms of data collection. The statistical population consisted of all Iranian migrant children aged 9 to 15 years. To determine the sample size in the first study, Cochran’s formula for populations with an indefinite size was used, and based on the estimated variable proportion in the pilot group, a sample of 120 participants was determined. The instruments used in this study included the MCGT intervention, Bandura et al.’s Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (1996), and the Kovacs and Beck Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI, 1977). Data were analyzed using SPSS software.
Results: Within-group comparisons of self-efficacy scores based on the RM test showed that changes over time (before the intervention, immediately after, and one month after the intervention) were not significant in the control group (P=0.569), but were significant at the 1% level in the intervention group (P=0.001). The mean depression scores of children in the intervention group decreased by 6.5 and 10.6 points immediately after the intervention and one month later, respectively, compared to the control group, whereas this trend increased among children in the control group. RM statistical analysis revealed that the changes in depression scores over time were not significant in the control group (P=0.307), but were significant at the 1% level in the intervention group (P=0.000).
Conclusion: The results of this study underscore the importance of targeted psychological interventions for migrant children, a population that is frequently overlooked in both research and practice. Prior to receiving the intervention, participating children exhibited low self-efficacy and high levels of depression, reflecting the substantial psychological burden imposed by the migration experience. These baseline findings align with previous research indicating that unresolved migration grief, coupled with social isolation and lack of support, can severely compromise children’s mental health. Following the implementation of the migration grief intervention based on complicated grief psychotherapy, the children in the intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in self-efficacy and notable reductions in depressive symptoms. These outcomes suggest that MCGT effectively addresses the psychological impact of migration by providing children with tools to process their grief, reframe their experiences, and regain a sense of control and competence. Importantly, these positive changes were not only evident immediately after the intervention but also persisted one month later, highlighting the durability of the therapeutic benefits. The observed decrease in depression is particularly noteworthy. Depression represents one of the most critical barriers to the healthy development and integration of migrant children. By reducing depressive symptoms, the intervention not only improved the children’s current psychological state but also enhanced their potential for long-term resilience, academic achievement, and social engagement. At the same time, the improvement in self-efficacy suggests that children were able to rebuild their confidence in facing challenges, an essential factor for adaptation in new cultural and educational environments. These findings have significant implications for practitioners, educators, and policymakers. They emphasize the need to incorporate grief-focused therapeutic interventions into mental health programs for migrant children, ensuring that their unique psychological needs are addressed alongside educational and social support. Moreover, schools and community organizations in host countries should be encouraged to adopt structured intervention programs like MCGT, which can be delivered in group or individual formats to reach a larger population. While the results are promising, future research is needed to explore long-term outcomes, investigate potential cultural variations in response to MCGT, and examine its effectiveness across diverse migrant populations. Despite these limitations, the present study demonstrates that addressing migration grief is not merely beneficial but essential for improving the psychological well-being and adaptive capacity of migrant children. By reducing depression and fostering self-efficacy, MCGT provides a pathway toward healthier adjustment and integration into new societies, ultimately contributing to their overall growth and resilience.
Methods: This study was quasi-experimental and applied in terms of purpose, and descriptive in terms of data collection. The statistical population consisted of all Iranian migrant children aged 9 to 15 years. To determine the sample size in the first study, Cochran’s formula for populations with an indefinite size was used, and based on the estimated variable proportion in the pilot group, a sample of 120 participants was determined. The instruments used in this study included the MCGT intervention, Bandura et al.’s Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (1996), and the Kovacs and Beck Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI, 1977). Data were analyzed using SPSS software.
Results: Within-group comparisons of self-efficacy scores based on the RM test showed that changes over time (before the intervention, immediately after, and one month after the intervention) were not significant in the control group (P=0.569), but were significant at the 1% level in the intervention group (P=0.001). The mean depression scores of children in the intervention group decreased by 6.5 and 10.6 points immediately after the intervention and one month later, respectively, compared to the control group, whereas this trend increased among children in the control group. RM statistical analysis revealed that the changes in depression scores over time were not significant in the control group (P=0.307), but were significant at the 1% level in the intervention group (P=0.000).
Conclusion: The results of this study underscore the importance of targeted psychological interventions for migrant children, a population that is frequently overlooked in both research and practice. Prior to receiving the intervention, participating children exhibited low self-efficacy and high levels of depression, reflecting the substantial psychological burden imposed by the migration experience. These baseline findings align with previous research indicating that unresolved migration grief, coupled with social isolation and lack of support, can severely compromise children’s mental health. Following the implementation of the migration grief intervention based on complicated grief psychotherapy, the children in the intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in self-efficacy and notable reductions in depressive symptoms. These outcomes suggest that MCGT effectively addresses the psychological impact of migration by providing children with tools to process their grief, reframe their experiences, and regain a sense of control and competence. Importantly, these positive changes were not only evident immediately after the intervention but also persisted one month later, highlighting the durability of the therapeutic benefits. The observed decrease in depression is particularly noteworthy. Depression represents one of the most critical barriers to the healthy development and integration of migrant children. By reducing depressive symptoms, the intervention not only improved the children’s current psychological state but also enhanced their potential for long-term resilience, academic achievement, and social engagement. At the same time, the improvement in self-efficacy suggests that children were able to rebuild their confidence in facing challenges, an essential factor for adaptation in new cultural and educational environments. These findings have significant implications for practitioners, educators, and policymakers. They emphasize the need to incorporate grief-focused therapeutic interventions into mental health programs for migrant children, ensuring that their unique psychological needs are addressed alongside educational and social support. Moreover, schools and community organizations in host countries should be encouraged to adopt structured intervention programs like MCGT, which can be delivered in group or individual formats to reach a larger population. While the results are promising, future research is needed to explore long-term outcomes, investigate potential cultural variations in response to MCGT, and examine its effectiveness across diverse migrant populations. Despite these limitations, the present study demonstrates that addressing migration grief is not merely beneficial but essential for improving the psychological well-being and adaptive capacity of migrant children. By reducing depression and fostering self-efficacy, MCGT provides a pathway toward healthier adjustment and integration into new societies, ultimately contributing to their overall growth and resilience.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Clinical Psychiatry
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