**Background:** International migrant workers (IMWs) contribute significantly to receiving countries' economies but face numerous challenges including hazardous working conditions, loneliness, prejudice, language barriers, and limited healthcare access. Previous studies have reported depressive symptom prevalence as high as 20% among IMWs. Indonesia is a major source of migrants in the Asia-Pacific region, and Taiwan hosts over 700,000 Southeast Asian migrant workers, with 37.1% from Indonesia. Despite this, little research has focused on the mental health of Indonesian migrant workers in Taiwan.
**Methods:** This cross-sectional study was conducted in Taiwan from April to August 2019. Using convenience sampling, 1031 Indonesian migrant workers (after excluding 7 with missing data from 1038 total) were recruited through social media, websites targeting migrant workers, and in-person recruitment at gathering locations (train stations, shopping malls, mosques, community parks, night markets) across northern, central, southern, and eastern Taiwan. Inclusion criteria were: Indonesian migrant workers aged ≥18 years who had lived in Taiwan for at least 6 months and were willing to complete the survey. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10) with a cutoff score of ≥10. Demographic, family, health, and social/living characteristics were collected via an online questionnaire. Bivariate analysis used chi-squared tests, and multivariate logistic regression identified factors associated with depressive symptoms, generating odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Significance was set at p < 0.05.
**Key Results:** The sample was 53.4% female, 68.1% older than 30 years, 89.2% had senior high school education or above, 65.4% were married, and 76.5% had children. Nearly all (92.5%) were financially supporting family in Indonesia, and over 69% contacted family more than twice weekly. Poor self-rated health was reported by 53.9%, and 42.3% had unmet medical needs. The prevalence of depressive symptoms (CES-D ≥10) was 15%. In bivariate analysis, all variables except educational level and unmet medical needs were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that those aged >30 years, with higher education, more frequent family contact, better self-rated health, and longer time in Taiwan (≥2 years) were less likely to have depressive symptoms. Workers in central, southern, or eastern Taiwan were less likely to have depressive symptoms compared to those in northern Taiwan. Satisfaction with living environment and ability to go out when not working were also associated with fewer depressive symptoms. Exact odds ratios and confidence intervals were not clearly reported in the text for each variable.
**Clinical Implications:** The 15% prevalence of depressive symptoms among Indonesian migrant workers in Taiwan is clinically significant and aligns with rates reported in other migrant populations (20% in Saudi Arabia, 16% in Mexican immigrants to the US, 17.1% among Turkish migrants in the Netherlands). Younger, less educated workers, those with infrequent family contact, poor health, shorter duration in Taiwan, working in northern Taiwan, dissatisfaction with living environment, and restricted freedom to go out are at highest risk. Interventions should focus on improving living conditions (minimum 3.2 m²/person per current regulations), enforcing six-day working week regulations, ensuring privacy and low-cost internet for family contact, and providing targeted support for newly arrived workers. The study's limitations include cross-sectional design, convenience sampling, online questionnaire administration (excluding those without internet access, particularly agricultural/fishery workers), and inability to verify participant identity, which may have led to underestimation of depressive symptom prevalence.