Rehabilitation for Depression Among High School Students Using Group Activity Program in Schools in Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to study the factors influencing depression among high school students, to study the use of group activity program in rehabilitation for depression among high school students, and to study the level of rehabilitation for depression among high school students in Bangkok, Thailand, before and after the group activity program. This research is a mixed research consisting of 3 steps. The first step is quantitative research, the statistics used in the research were mean, S.D., and multiple regression analysis. The second step is qualitative research, the techniques used were in-depth interview and focus group. The third step is quantitative research, the statistic used was t-test. The study found that 1) Factors influencing depression among high school students consisted of 2 factors, namely individual coping resources (β = 0.510) and protection (β = 0.360) with a predictive efficiency coefficient of 65.60% (R2 = 0.656) 2) Using group activity program in rehabilitation for depression among high school students was convenient, simple to implement in schools, activities are suitable for high school students, and the sample group cooperated well during activities 3) The results of comparing the students' depression levels before and after the program showed that, overall and in every aspect, the level of depression in students after the program was lower than their level of depression before the program, and the program was able to rehabilitate all aspects of depression of the high school students, especially the rehabilitation for emotional symptoms in which change is clearly visible.