Adapting Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) to reduce depression risk in Khmer Boarding High School Pupils in the Mekong Delta
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64171/JAES.6.5.72-79Keywords:
MBCT, School depression, Khmer pupils, Mindfulness, Boarding school educationAbstract
This study examines the adaptability of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) to reduce the risk of depression among Khmer boarding high school pupils in the Mekong Delta. The study was conducted using a mixed-methods approach, combining a quantitative survey of 175 people, including administrators, teachers, parents, and pupils at 5 ethnic boarding schools in Vinh Long province and Can Tho city, along with semi-structured interviews of 15 participants. Research findings indicate that Khmer boarding school pupils face numerous psychological pressures, such as feelings of loneliness, difficulty sharing emotions, academic stress, and persistent negative thinking. In this context, MBCT is considered a suitable psychological support model because it helps pupils identify emotions, regulate negative thinking, and enhance their sense of psychological safety. The study also shows that the effectiveness of MBCT depends significantly on cultural adaptation, the involvement of the school and family, and the sustainability of mindfulness practices. The research results contribute to expanding the application of MBCT in school education and provide a scientific basis for mental health support models for ethnic minority pupils in Vietnam.
References
Bach TS. Developing education and training in Khmer ethnic minority areas: focusing on training from primary school to postgraduate level. 2015. Available from: https://bdttg.gov.vn/phat-trien-giao-duc-dao-tao-vung-dong-bao-khmer-quan-tam-dao-tao-tu-cap-hoc-dau-tien-den-sau-dai-hoc.htm.
Baron RM, Kenny DA. The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1986;51(6):1173-1182.
Bellin ZV. The meaning connection between mindfulness and happiness. Journal of Humanistic Counseling. 2015;54:221-235. doi:10.1002/johc.12013.
Brown KW, Ryan RM. The benefits of being present: mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2003;84(4):822-848.
Coo C, Salanova M. Mindfulness can make you happy and productive: a mindfulness controlled trial and its effects on happiness, work engagement and performance. Journal of Happiness Studies. 2018;19:1691-1711. doi:10.1007/s10902-017-9892-8.
Crane R. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. New York: Routledge; 2017. doi:10.4324/9781315627229.
Hayes AF. Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: a regression-based approach. Guilford Publications, Inc., 2013.
Hollis-Walker L, Colosimo K. Mindfulness, self-compassion, and happiness in non-meditators: a theoretical and empirical examination. Personality and Individual Differences. 2011;50(2):222-227.
Keng SL, Smoski MJ, Robins CJ. Effects of mindfulness on psychological health: a review of empirical studies. Clinical Psychology Review. 2011;31(6):1041-1056. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2011.04.006.
King AP, Erickson TM, Giardino ND, et al. A pilot study of group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Depression and Anxiety. 2013;30(7):638-645. doi:10.1002/da.22104.
Luu DL. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for people with depression. Giac Ngo Online, 2024. Available from: https://giacngo.vn/tri-lieu-nhan-thuc-dua-tren-chanh-niem-cho-nguoi-tram-cam-post73930.html.
Mackenzie MB, Kocovski NL. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression: trends and developments. Psychology Research and Behavior Management. 2016;9:125-132. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S63949.
Schimelpfening N. What is mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)? Verywell Mind, 2024. Available from: https://www.verywellmind.com/mindfulness-based-cognitive-therapy-1067396.
Nguyen TML. Communication characteristics of Khmer pupils in the Mekong Delta. Doctoral dissertation in Psychology. Academy of Social Sciences, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, 2023.
Omidi A, Mohammadkhani P, Mohammadi A, Zargar F. Comparing mindfulness based cognitive therapy and traditional cognitive behavior therapy with treatments as usual on reduction of major depressive disorder symptoms. Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal. 2013;15(2):142-146. doi:10.5812/ircmj.8018.
Parsons CE, Crane C, Parsons LJ, Fjorback LO, Kuyken W. Home practice in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of participants’ mindfulness practice and its association with outcomes. Behaviour Research and Therapy. 2017;95:29-41. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2017.05.004.
Phuc S. Tra Vinh: investing in and developing education in Khmer ethnic minority areas. Journal of Ethnic Minorities and Development, 2019. Available from: https://dantocphattrien.vietnamnet.vn/tra-vinh-dau-tu-phat-trien-giao-duc-vung-dong-bao-khmer-7082.html.
Sipe WE, Eisendrath SJ. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy: theory and practice. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. 2012;57(2):63-69. doi:10.1177/070674371205700202.
Riemann D, Hertenstein E, Schramm E. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression. The Lancet. 2016;387(10023):1054. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)00660-7.
Thanh H. Raising the intellectual level of the Khmer ethnic minority. Vietnam News Agency, 2024. Available from: https://chinhsachcuocsong.vnanet.vn/nang-cao-trinh-do-dan-tri-vung-dong-bao-dan-toc-khmer/36688.html.
Tickell A, Ball S, Bernard P, et al. The effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in real-world healthcare services. Mindfulness. 2020;11(2):279-290. doi:10.1007/s12671-018-1087-9.
Vietnamese Buddhists. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT): an in-depth study and practical guidance, 2025. Available from: https://www.phattuvietnam.net/lieu-phap-nhan-thuc-dua-tren-chanh-niem-mbct-tim-hieu-sau-va-huong-dan-thuc-hanh/.
