Relationship between Religious Activities and Depression Level among North Korean Refugees

Abstract

This study aims to ascertain the level of religious activity amongst North Korean refugees living in South Korea and determine the relationship between religion and levels of depression for this population. Subjects for this study included 149 North Korean refugees. In addition to their demographic characteristics inclusive of religious activities for the past three years from the time of survey, their religious orientations and depression levels were measured respectively using the Korean Version of the Intrinsic/ Extrinsic Religious Orientation Scale and the Korean Version of Beck Depressive Inventory. Chi-square tests and ANOVA using GLM (General Linear Model) were applied to verify statistical significances in depression levels according to religionrelated variables, followed by a multiple regression analysis performed to determine the relationship between religion status and depression levels. Findings showed that religious activities among North Korean refugees are decreasing with noticeable breakaway from the Protestant church and that a great percentage of them are oriented toward two extremes of religious propensity, the pro-religious and the anti-religious. Importantly, this study found that depression levels are not affected by religious activity or religious orientation, suggesting that diverse channels of support besides religion should be developed for improving mental health and successful adaptation of North Korean refugees to South Korean society. 1)