EFFECTS OF A GROUP THERAPY MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM AND KORAT SONG ON DEPRESSION IN THE ELDERLY AT HUA THALE, MUEANG DISTRICT, NAKHON RATCHASIMA RATCHASIMA

Abstract

Objectives: The present study was based on a quasi-experimental research design aimed at studying the effects of a group therapy mental health program and Korat songs on depression in the elderly at Hua Thale, Muang District, Nakhon Ratchasima

Methodology: The sample group was composed of elderly people aged 60 years and up residing at Hua Thale, Muang District, Nakhon Ratchasima, with mild to moderate depression as assessed by the TGDS evaluation form. Purposive sampling was used to obtain eight subjects for the sample group. Depression was evaluated before and after participation in the program. The sample group received the program created by the researcher. The research instrumentation was composed of the following: 1) the group therapy mental health program and Korat songs for elderly patients with depression; 2) demographic data questionnaire and 3) the Thai Geriatric Depression Scale (TGDS) developed by the brain rehabilitation group by Nipon Puangwarin and colleagues (1994). The first two instruments were checked for content validity by qualified experts consisting of three psychological nursing professors, namely, Professor Kochakorn Kaewprom, Professor Prapaporn Sumram, and Professor Thassanee Thipsungnern. The reliability of the third instrument was calculated by using Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 (KR-20) to produce a value of 0.93. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and t-statistics.

Findings: The research found the elderly to have less depression after participation in the group therapy mental health program and Korat songs with statistical significance at 0.05 (t = 11.72).