Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: The significance of resilience in mental health promotion  of marriage immigrant women: 
A qualitative study of factors and processes  
 
Version: 0 Date: 23 Oct 2019  
 
Reviewer: Tam Truong Donnelly  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Abstract:  
 
This paper addresses a very important health issue for immigrant wome n. Structured abstract is 
well written. However, the "methods" section needs elaboration regarding methodology and 
study design (theoretical framework, site, participants, etc.)  
 
 
Table:  -    Self-exploratory.  
 
- Table 1 needs to have general demographic data of women participants: years of living in 
the host country; number of children; for program manager: years of working with 
immigrant women; type of institution (public funded vs private funded, NGO, etc.)  
 
 
Background:  
 
- This section needs to includ e more information. Authors should include statistic 
information regarding immigrant women population in South Korea to give readers a 
better understanding of the population of interest and the context of the study.   
 
- This section should include a more c omprehensive literature review of studies about 
immigrant women's lives and the difficulties that they face in Korea if available, if not, 
studies of immigrant women in the Southeast Asia region can also give insights on the 
study's research topic.  
 
- As this manuscript is about immigrant women living in Korea, authors should include 
more contextual information related to the current country's immigration policies, 
available programs and services, guidelines and public education regarding the current 
wide s pread cross -cultural phenomenon.  
 
- It is a very positive aspect of the study that author(s) explore positive factors influencing 
immigrant women's health and these women resilient.  
 
 
Methods:  
- Please elaborate on the qualitative methodology. On page 6, l ine 71 -72, the study's 
purpose was communicated. However, is there a research question(s)? explain why 
qualitative study is a good fit for the study and a best way to answer the study's research 
question(s).  
 
- Please elaborate on recruitment procedure. Ho w were the women participants and 
program managers made aware of the study? How were they contacted and invited to 
participate in the study.  
 
- Please elaborate on the inclusion and exclusion criteria for both MIGs and program 
managers.  
 
- Ethical concern (issue related to coercion) regarding recruitment of MIGs because the 
program managers were recruited as participants first then they recommended MIGs 
participants to the researcher.  
 
- Were participants informed that participation is volunt ary and that they can withdraw 
anytime without repercussion?  
 
- Line 90, did the author mean "data saturation" and not "theoretical saturation"?  
 
- Analysis section needs to indicate who performed data analysis and how the rigor of data 
analysis was attaine d and maintained.  
 
 
Results: Well written in some sections, few suggestions as follow.  
 
- In section: "Enduring difficulties", domestic abuse (physically, mentally, sexually, 
financially) has been a big problem among MIGs did the author(s) investigate or com e 
across these issues? If they do please include, if they did not, please give rationale 
/explain to the readers why. The issues of domestic violent was mentioned later in the 
result section, however, it was not sufficiently addressed.  
 
- The author(s) cho ose to present data using alternative formats, some quotes were inserted 
in the text, others were table 2. While this might be due to the journal's page limit, it 
interrupted the flow of reading.  
 
 
Discussion:  
 
- It would be very helpful to the readers and  health care providers if the authors give 
specific recommendations to address issues identified in the study's findings.  
 
- On page 15, line 282 -284, author(s) wrote "It is imperative that access to professional 
services is improved to empower immigrant w omen. According to this study's findings, 
this professional help should be available within two years of migration." This is a very 
important point that need further discussion. It would be very important to have 
recommendations regarding what kind of prof essional support, programs and services 
should be available and access by MIGs?  
 
- Similarly, line 289 -301, problems of domestic violent and abuse by spouses and in -law 
family members are rampant among these women. Please recommend how and what type 
of par tner and family interventions should be implemented at multiple system level such 
as family, community, social and health care institutions, societal and cultural levels.   
 
- Line 307 -316: It is great that the author emphasized the crucial role of family, 
community, social, cultural and economic on mental health of MIGs instead of  
individual psychological and personality traits on the development of resilience.  
 
- Line 324 -325, I think that "To sustain and strengthen growth in resilience in marriage 
immigr ant women, interventions should be considered for individuals which include the 
woman, her spouse, and family members …."  
 
- Limitation of the study should include the nature of a qualitative study.  
 
- Recommendation for further research should explore how gender, women social position, 
power, cultural beliefs and values, social and institutional ideologies intersect to 
influence MIGs resilience, mental health, and quality of life.  
 
Final comments to the author(s): Thank you for conducting this research and  for considering 
publication of the study result. Given that female marriage migration is increasing in Southeast 
Asia, the findings of this study is very relevant and significant at addressing immigrant women's 
mental health issue.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manus cript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to  the editors.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the followin g questions:  
 
1.  Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, f ees, funding, or salary 
from an organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly from the 
publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2.  Do you hold any sto cks or shares in an organisation t hat may in any way gain or 
lose financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the 
future?  
 
3.  Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content 
of the manuscript?  
 
4.  Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization 
that holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5.  Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6.  Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have  no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I h ave no competing interests  
 
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