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Oddo VM, Mabrouk S, Andrea SB, Ahonen EQ, Winkler MR, Vignola EF, Hajat A. The association between precarious employment and stress among working aged individuals in the United States. Prev Med 2024; 187:108123. [PMID: 39216552 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2024.108123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 08/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Precarious employment is a plausible stressor, which may adversely affect health. We investigated the association between multidimensional precarious employment and perceived and biological stress in the U.S. METHODS We used data from waves 4 (2008-2009) and 5 (2016-2018) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Eight indicators were mapped to five dimensions of precarious employment to create a continuous score (PES, range: 0-5): material rewards, working-time arrangements, stability, workers' rights, and interpersonal relationships. Perceived stress was constructed from the four-item Cohen's perceived stress score (PSS; range: 0-16; wave 4). We measured biological stress in waves 4 and 5 via C-reactive protein (CRP). Given variability in CRP collection between waves, we treated wave 4 and 5 as cross-sectional. We employed adjusted linear regression models to estimate whether the PES was associated with the PSS in wave 4 (n = 11,510) and CRP in waves 4 (n = 10,343) and 5 (n = 3452). RESULT Individuals were aged 28 and 37 years on average in wave 4 and 5, respectively. Half were female and most identified as non-Hispanic (NH)-White (∼73 %), followed by NH-Black (∼14 %), Hispanic (∼9 %) and NH-other (∼4 %). Average PES was inversely related to education. The PSS averaged 8.1 (Interquartile Range [IQR] = 7.0,9.0). Average CRP was 4.4 mg/L (IQR = 0.8,5.0) in wave 4 and 3.6 mg/L (IQR = 0.8,4.2) in wave 5. The PES was associated with perceived stress (β=0.06; 95 % CI = 0.01,0.10) and CRP in wave 5 (β=0.34; 95 % CI = 0.07,0.62). CONCLUSIONS Given the deleterious effects of stress on health, policies to reduce precarious employment warrant consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa M Oddo
- Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Sherif Mabrouk
- Department of Economics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sarah B Andrea
- School of Public Health, Oregon Health and Sciences University-Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Emily Q Ahonen
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Megan R Winkler
- Department of Behavioral, Social and Health Education Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Emilia F Vignola
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Anjum Hajat
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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O’Campo P, Gunn V, Perri M, Buhariwala P, Rasoulain E, Daneshvardfard M, Ma RW, Lewchuck W, Baron S, Bodin T, Muntaner C. Working Conditions, Worker Rights, and Managerial Domination During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Assessing Their Toll on Precariously Employed Workers and Family Well-Being. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES 2024; 54:233-246. [PMID: 38813773 PMCID: PMC11157980 DOI: 10.1177/27551938241253789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Precarious Employment (PE) is characterized by job, income, and benefit insecurities. Studies surrounding PE and well-being have been predominantly quantitative, leaving a gap in rich descriptions of employment experiences. We recruited a sample of 40 adults aged 25-55 who were involved in PE during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic or lost employment due to the pandemic. Semi-structured interviews were administered. Employment and income insecurities were common and had negative impacts on the well-being of participants and their families. Uncertainty about future employment prospects and job and income loss resulted in chronic distress. Other insecurities-access to benefits, violation of worker rights, worker safety-was also reported as impacting well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic deepened insecurities, hardships, and distress among workers with PE conditions. Given the myriad insecurities experienced by those engaged in PE, the focus of precarious work research should also include working conditions, violation of worker rights, and managerial domination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia O’Campo
- MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Virginia Gunn
- MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Cape Breton University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Melissa Perri
- MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Pearl Buhariwala
- MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Elham Rasoulain
- MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Rachel W Ma
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Wayne Lewchuck
- Department of Economics and School of Labour Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Sherry Baron
- Barry Commoner Center for Health and the Environment, Queens College, City University of New York, Queens, NY, USA
| | - Theo Bodin
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Stockholm Region, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carles Muntaner
- MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Lawrence S. Bloomberg School of Nursing, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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3
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Agyemang C, van der Linden EL, Chilunga F, van den Born BH. International Migration and Cardiovascular Health: Unraveling the Disease Burden Among Migrants to North America and Europe. J Am Heart Assoc 2024; 13:e030228. [PMID: 38686900 PMCID: PMC11179927 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.123.030228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Europe and North America are the 2 largest recipients of international migrants from low-resource regions in the world. Here, large differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and death exist between migrants and the host populations. This review discusses the CVD burden and its most important contributors among the largest migrant groups in Europe and North America as well as the consequences of migration to high-income countries on CVD diagnosis and therapy. The available evidence indicates that migrants in Europe and North America generally have a higher CVD risk compared with the host populations. Cardiometabolic, behavioral, and psychosocial factors are important contributors to their increased CVD risk. However, despite these common denominators, there are important ethnic differences in the propensity to develop CVD that relate to pre- and postmigration factors, such as socioeconomic status, cultural factors, lifestyle, psychosocial stress, access to health care and health care usage. Some of these pre- and postmigration environmental factors may interact with genetic (epigenetics) and microbial factors, which further influence their CVD risk. The limited number of prospective cohorts and clinical trials in migrant populations remains an important culprit for better understanding pathophysiological mechanism driving health differences and for developing ethnic-specific CVD risk prediction and care. Only by improved understanding of the complex interaction among human biology, migration-related factors, and sociocultural determinants of health influencing CVD risk will we be able to mitigate these differences and truly make inclusive personalized treatment possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Agyemang
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMCUniversity of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research InstituteAmsterdamThe Netherlands
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of MedicineJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Eva L. van der Linden
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMCUniversity of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research InstituteAmsterdamThe Netherlands
- Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam UMCUniversity of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cardiovascular SciencesAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Felix Chilunga
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMCUniversity of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research InstituteAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Bert‐Jan H. van den Born
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMCUniversity of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research InstituteAmsterdamThe Netherlands
- Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam UMCUniversity of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cardiovascular SciencesAmsterdamThe Netherlands
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4
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Jaydarifard S, Smith SS, Rossa KR, Mann D, Nikooharf Salehi E, Shekari Soleimanloo S. Sleep mediates the relationship between precarious employment and mental health. Sleep Med X 2023; 6:100092. [PMID: 38053834 PMCID: PMC10694582 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleepx.2023.100092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Current evidence suggests that precarious employment is a risk factor for poor mental health. Although the mechanisms underpinning this relationship are unclear, poor sleep has been proposed to have a role in this relationship. This study explored the mediating effects of poor sleep quality and duration on the relationship between precarious employment and mental health. Methods Data were obtained from wave 17 of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey. A novel precarious employment score (PES) was developed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) in 8127 workers (4195 female, aged 18-65). Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to evaluate the mediating effect of sleep quality and duration on the relationship between precarious employment and mental health (SF-36 mental health subscale). Results The PES identified 650 workers with a high level of precariousness, 2417 with a moderate level of precariousness, and 5060 workers with a low level of precariousness out of 8127 in total. There was a significant direct association between precarious employment and mental health; with higher precarity increasing the likelihood of poor mental health. The SEM results revealed that sleep quality partially mediated the association between precarious employment and mental health (Coefficient = 0.025, 95 % CI [0.015, 0.034], P ≤ 0.001). However, a mediation effect was not found for sleep duration. Conclusion Encouraging precarious employees to improve sleep quality may mitigate the adverse effects of precarious work on their mental health. Further objective measurement of sleep duration warrants a more accurate insight into this mediating effect in this group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Jaydarifard
- Institute for Social Science Research, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families Over the Life Course, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Simon S. Smith
- Institute for Social Science Research, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families Over the Life Course, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Kalina R. Rossa
- Institute for Social Science Research, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families Over the Life Course, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Dwayne Mann
- Institute for Social Science Research, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families Over the Life Course, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Elahe Nikooharf Salehi
- Institute for Social Science Research, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Shamsi Shekari Soleimanloo
- Institute for Social Science Research, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families Over the Life Course, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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Toulany A, Kurdyak P, Stukel TA, Strauss R, Fu L, Guan J, Fiksenbaum L, Cohen E, Guttmann A, Vigod S, Chiu M, Moore Hepburn C, Moran K, Gardner W, Cappelli M, Sundar P, Saunders N. Sociodemographic Differences in Physician-Based Mental Health and Virtual Care Utilization and Uptake of Virtual Care Among Children and Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ontario, Canada: A Population-Based Study. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY. REVUE CANADIENNE DE PSYCHIATRIE 2023; 68:904-915. [PMID: 36855797 PMCID: PMC9982398 DOI: 10.1177/07067437231156254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We sought to evaluate the relationship between social determinants of health and physician-based mental healthcare utilization and virtual care use among children and adolescents in Ontario, Canada, during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS This population-based repeated cross-sectional study of children and adolescents (3-17 years; N = 2.5 million) used linked health and demographic administrative data in Ontario, Canada (2017-2021). Multivariable Poisson regressions with generalized estimating equations compared rates of outpatient physician-based mental healthcare use during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic with expected rates based on pre-COVID patterns. Analyses were conducted by socioeconomic status (material deprivation quintiles of the Ontario Marginalization index), urban/rural region of residence, and immigration status. RESULTS Overall, pediatric physician-based mental healthcare visits were 5% lower than expected (rate ratio [RR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.92 to 0.98) among those living in the most deprived areas in the first year of the pandemic, compared with the least deprived with 4% higher than expected rates (RR = 1.04, 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.06). There were no differences in overall observed and expected visit rates by region of residence. Immigrants had 14% to 26% higher visit rates compared with expected from July 2020 to February 2021, whereas refugees had similarly observed and expected rates. Virtual care use was approximately 65% among refugees, compared with 70% for all strata. CONCLUSION During the first year of the pandemic, pediatric physician-based mental healthcare utilization was higher among immigrants and lower than expected among those with lower socioeconomic status. Refugees had the lowest use of virtual care. Further work is needed to understand whether these differences reflect issues in access to care or the need to help inform ongoing pandemic recovery planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alene Toulany
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Canada
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Paul Kurdyak
- ICES, Toronto, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
| | - Therese A. Stukel
- ICES, Toronto, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Lisa Fiksenbaum
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Eyal Cohen
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Canada
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Astrid Guttmann
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Canada
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Simone Vigod
- ICES, Toronto, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Women's College Hospital and Women's College Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Maria Chiu
- ICES, Toronto, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Charlotte Moore Hepburn
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - William Gardner
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Mario Cappelli
- Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Purnima Sundar
- Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Natasha Saunders
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Canada
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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6
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Bosmans K. Precarious employment, precarious life? A qualitative study exploring the perspective of temporary agency workers and their households. Work 2022; 75:113-127. [PMID: 36591685 DOI: 10.3233/wor-220095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous research demonstrated the negative consequences of precarious employment for the health and well-being of employees. However, the broader social consequences of precarious employment are under-examined. OBJECTIVE This study explores the broader impact of precarious employment on the life course, family and social life of households. A multi-actor perspective is adopted, considering the perspectives of different household members. METHODS For this aim, in-depth (household) interviews among temporary agency workers in Belgium are conducted. RESULTS The results reveal that precarious employment influences the life course and family and social life in three ways: (1) by hindering or facilitating life course events and transitions of household members, (2) by influencing the daily life and household planning, and (3) by influencing the mood of household members. CONCLUSION The consequences of precarious employment reach further than the work environment; they impact the life course, and social and family life of workers. Moreover, precarious employment does not only influence the workers themselves, but also their household members, which is often forgotten in studies. Therefore, policy makers should consider the far-reaching consequences of precarious employment when developing (flexible) labour market policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Bosmans
- Research Group Interface Demography, Department of Sociology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium. E-mail:
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Lederer V, Messing K, Sultan-Taïeb H. How Can Quantitative Analysis Be Used to Improve Occupational Health without Reinforcing Social Inequalities? An Examination of Statistical Methods. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:19. [PMID: 36612341 PMCID: PMC9819275 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Taking account of sex and gender in occupational health studies poses statistical challenges. Other sociodemographic variables, such as racialization, class, and age, also affect the relations between workplace exposures and health and interact with sex and gender. Our objective was to perform a critical review of conventional and emerging statistical tools, examining whether each analysis takes account of sociodemographic variables (1) in a way that contributes to identification of critical occupational determinants of health (2) while taking account of relevant population characteristics to reflect intersectional approaches to health and (3) using sample sizes and population characteristics available to researchers. A two-step search was conducted: (1) a scientific watch concerning the statistical tools most commonly used in occupational health over the past 20 years; (2) a screening of the 1980-2022 literature with a focus on emerging tools. Our examination shows that regressions with adjustment for confounders and stratification fail to reveal the sociodemographic mechanisms that interact with occupational health problems, endangering the identification of occupational risks. Multilevel (notably MAIHDA) analyses, decision tree, cluster, and latent analyses are useful methods to consider when seeking to orientate prevention. Researchers should consider methods that adequately reveal the mechanisms connecting sociodemographic variables and occupational health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérie Lederer
- Department of Industrial Relations, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Gatineau, QC J8X 3X7, Canada
| | - Karen Messing
- Department of Biological Sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Hélène Sultan-Taïeb
- Department of Organization and Human Resources, School of Management (ESG-UQAM), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
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Cowden RG, Seidman AJ, Duffee C, Węziak-Białowolska D, McNeely E, VanderWeele TJ. Associations of suffering with facets of health and well-being among working adults: longitudinal evidence from two samples. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20141. [PMID: 36418921 PMCID: PMC9684157 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24497-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Suffering is an experiential state that every person encounters at one time or another, yet little is known about suffering and its consequences for the health and well-being of nonclinical adult populations. In a pair of longitudinal studies, we used two waves of data from garment factory workers (Study 1 [T1: 2017, T2: 2019]: n = 344) and flight attendants (Study 2 [T1: 2017/2018, T2: 2020]: n = 1402) to examine the prospective associations of suffering with 16 outcomes across different domains of health and well-being: physical health, health behavior, mental health, psychological well-being, character strengths, and social well-being. The primary analysis involved a series of regression analyses in which each T2 outcome was regressed on overall suffering assessed at T1, adjusting for relevant sociodemographic characteristics and the baseline value (or close proxy) of the outcome assessed at T1. In Study 1, associations of overall suffering with worse subsequent health and well-being were limited to a single outcome on each of the domains of physical health and mental health. Overall suffering was more consistently related to worse subsequent health and well-being in Study 2, with associations emerging for all but two outcomes. The pattern of findings for each study was largely similar when aspects of suffering were modeled individually, although associations for some aspects of suffering differed from those that emerged for overall suffering. Our findings suggest that suffering may have important implications for the health and well-being of worker populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard G Cowden
- Human Flourishing Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Andrew J Seidman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Charlotte Duffee
- Human Flourishing Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Dorota Węziak-Białowolska
- Human Flourishing Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Sustainability and Health Initiative (SHINE), Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Centre for Evaluation and Analysis of Public Policies, Faculty of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Eileen McNeely
- Sustainability and Health Initiative (SHINE), Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tyler J VanderWeele
- Human Flourishing Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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9
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Agudelo-Suárez AA, Vargas-Valencia MY, Vahos-Arias J, Ariza-Sosa G, Rojas-Gutiérrez WJ, Ronda-Pérez E. A qualitative study of employment, working and health conditions among Venezuelan migrants in Colombia. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY 2022; 30:e2782-e2792. [PMID: 35023594 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.13722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to explore the perceptions of the Venezuelan immigrant population in Medellín, Colombia, regarding their employment, working and health conditions (physical, mental and psychosocial). A qualitative study was conducted (focused ethnography perspective). Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 31 Venezuelans and 12 key informants from different social organisations that work with the immigrant population. A narrative content analysis was carried out (Atlas.Ti 8.0 software). The migratory process for Venezuelans is caused for political, economical and social aspects in Venezuela and Colombia is offered as the first destination for labour establishing. Access to the labour market is limited to certain occupations, in many cases in the informal economy. Participants referring low salaries, working long hours and reduced social benefits. Occupational risks are evidenced by low experience in the labour market. Some health problems are perceived, and a good part of the interviewed population referred to signs and symptoms related to mental health problems. Barriers to access health and social protection services were found. Finally, future expectations depend on their adaptation to Colombia, the improvement of social conditions in Venezuela or having chances of improving their social and living conditions in another country. A high labour and social vulnerability were found in Venezuelan participants that impact on physical and mental health. Political and strategies from a public health perspective are required and the implementation of systems for monitoring and evaluating the labour and health situation in the working immigrant population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés A Agudelo-Suárez
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
- Public Health Research Group, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Mary Y Vargas-Valencia
- The National Training Service (Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje-SENA), Medellín, Colombia
| | | | | | | | - Elena Ronda-Pérez
- Public Health Research Group, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
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10
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Jaramillo NR, Trillos CE, Julià M. The measure of precarious employment and its impact on the mental health of workers: A systematic review 2007–2020. Work 2022; 73:639-650. [DOI: 10.3233/wor-210064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Precarious employment conditions can influence the worker’s mental health; however, there is no consensus regarding the definition of precarious employment or the way it is measured. OBJECTIVE: The objective is to identify existing research of the conceptual framework, the ways to measure precarious employment and its impact on the mental health of workers. METHODS: A systematic review with the strategic search for observational-empirical and qualitative studies published between 2007 and 2020 in Embase, Scopus and PubMed, full text, in English and Spanish. Studies were selected and excluded, according to eligibility criteria. Two independent reviewers and one arbitrator evaluated the quality of selected papers with the STROBE guidelines for observational studies and SRQR for qualitative ones. RESULTS: 408 studies were obtained, 21 met inclusion criteria, in 14 studies precarious employment was measured one-dimensionally. Of these, 11 with the dimension of temporality and three with insecurity. Four studies it was measured in a multidimensional way, with the Employment Precariousness Scale (EPRES) and in three qualitative designs, with different categories of analysis. Mental health was measured with SF-36 (n = 4), GHQ-12 (n = 3) and CES-D (n = 3). CONCLUSIONS: The concept of precarious employment requires a multidimensional construct, although the tendency to measure precarious employment is one-dimensional. Regardless of how is measured, this has a negative impact on the mental health of workers. The outcomes related to this social determinant included depression, depressive symptoms, psychological distress, stress, and suicidal thoughts. Youths, women, people with low levels of education and immigrants are the groups that show the major precariousness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mireia Julià
- Research Group on Health Inequalities, Environment, and Employment Conditions Network (GREDS-EMCONET), Barcelona, Spain
- Mar Nursing School, Parc de Salut Mar, Universitat Pompeu Fabra-Affiliated, Barcelona, Spain
- Social Determinants and Health Education Research Group, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
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11
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Research on the Influence of Informal Employment on Residents' Happiness in China: Empirical Analysis Based on CLDS Data. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19159085. [PMID: 35897453 PMCID: PMC9331666 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19159085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The influence of informal employment on residents’ happiness has gained wide attention around the world. However, few studies focus on this topic in China. Using the 2016 wave of the China Labor Force Dynamics Survey (CLDS) data, we examined the effect of informal employment and its mechanisms on residents’ happiness in China. Our study shows there is a significant negative correlation between informal employment and residents’ happiness in China. Moreover, the correlation between informal employment and residents’ happiness is stronger for residents who are female, migrating, and with a rural household registration. In addition, we investigated possible mechanisms of the effect, including individual income, social respect, unemployment expectations, and social security, and found that informal employment reduces the happiness of residents by widening the gap in unemployment probability and social insurance level among residents.
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12
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Bazzoli A, Probst TM. Vulnerable workers in insecure jobs: A critical meta‐synthesis of qualitative findings. APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY-AN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW-PSYCHOLOGIE APPLIQUEE-REVUE INTERNATIONALE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/apps.12415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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13
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Pförtner TK, Demirer I. How Working Conditions, Socioeconomic Insecurity, and Behavior-Related Factors Mediate the Association Between Working Poverty and Health in Germany. Int J Public Health 2022; 67:1604555. [PMID: 35645704 PMCID: PMC9130479 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2022.1604555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Aims of this study were to Schmitt (Advances in Life Course Research, 2021, 47: 100402) analyze the association of working poverty with mental and physical health-related quality of life and (Wang and Ford, J Organ Behav, 2020, 41 (9): 895-914) to explain these associations by behavior-related factors (heavy drinking, smoking status, body mass index), socioeconomic insecurity (deprivation in living standards, economic worries), and mental working conditions (effort-reward imbalance, job insecurity). Methods: A total of 11,500 employees aged 17-67 from the German Socioeconomic Panel (2014, 2015, and 2016) were used, and mediation analyses with inverse odds weighting stratified by gender were conducted. Results: Working poverty was significantly associated with both outcomes for both genders. Deprivation in living standards contributed the most to differences in mental health, with a mediated proportion of 60.3% (men) and 44.4% (women). Differences in physical health were significantly mediated by inadequate living standards in women, with a mediated proportion of 73.7%, whereas none of the mediators considered were significant in men. Conclusion: Indicators of socioeconomic insecurity contributed most to the association of working poverty with mental and physical health. Results highlight the relevance of policy initiatives to strengthen the socioeconomic living conditions of the working poor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timo-Kolja Pförtner
- Research Methods Division, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science, Medical Faculty and Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Ibrahim Demirer
- Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science, Medical Faculty and Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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14
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Shirmohammadi M, Beigi M, Richardson J. Subjective well-being among blue-collar immigrant employees: A systematic literature review. HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT REVIEW 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.hrmr.2022.100914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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15
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Nadalin V, Mustard C, Smith PM. The Impact of Adverse Employment and Working Conditions on the Risk of Workplace Injury in Canada. Saf Health Work 2021; 12:471-478. [PMID: 34900366 PMCID: PMC8640615 DOI: 10.1016/j.shaw.2021.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Employment standards (ES) include having a regular payday, regular breaks, the right to paid sick or vacation time, and paid wages. Inadequate ES contribute to the labour market vulnerability of workers; however, they are not typically considered to be risk factors for workplace injury. In a sample of Canadian workers, we examine the risk of injury associated with inadequate ES, independent of, and combined with inadequate workplace protections from workplace hazards. Methods Data from 2,803 adults working 15 hours or more/week in workplaces with at least five employees were analysed. We explored associations between exposure to workplace hazards with inadequate protections [termed occupational health and safety (OHS) vulnerability] and inadequate ES on workplace injury (physical or mental injury; injury requiring time off). Additive interaction models were used to examine the independent and combined effects of these exposures. Results Occupational health and safety vulnerability and inadequate ES were independently associated with increased injury outcomes. Adjusted models showed an additive relationship for all injury outcomes between OHS vulnerability and inadequate ES. Statistically significant superadditive relationships were observed for physical injury risk with policy and procedure vulnerability plus inadequate ES [synergy index (S) 1.50, 95% CI: 1.13-2.00] and for overall OHS vulnerability plus inadequate ES (S 1.53, 95% CI: 1.16-2.02), suggesting a combined effect greater than independent effects. Conclusion Occupational health and safety vulnerability and inadequate ES are independently associated with workplace injury. For certain injury outcomes, the combined effect of OHS vulnerability and inadequate ES is greater than the independent effects of each individual exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cameron Mustard
- Institute for Work and Health, Toronto, Canada.,Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Peter M Smith
- Institute for Work and Health, Toronto, Canada.,Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, Canada.,School of Population Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University, Australia
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16
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Hasan SI, Yee A, Rinaldi A, Azham AA, Mohd Hairi F, Amer Nordin AS. Prevalence of common mental health issues among migrant workers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260221. [PMID: 34855800 PMCID: PMC8638981 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous literature has shown that migrant workers manifested higher common mental issues (especially depressive symptom) compared to local workers due to stressors such as financial constraint and lack of access to healthcare. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to summarize the current body of evidence for the prevalence of depression and anxiety among migrant workers as well as exploring the risk factors and the availability of social support for migrant workers. Seven electronic databases, grey literature and Google Scholar were searched for studies from 2015 to 2021 related to mental health, social support and migrant workers. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale and the Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument (JBI-QARI). Study heterogeneity was evaluated using I2 statistics. Random effects meta-analysis results were presented given heterogeneity among studies. The search returned 27 articles and only seven studies were included in meta-analysis, involving 44 365 migrant workers in 17 different countries. The overall prevalence of depression and anxiety among migrant workers was 38.99% (95% CI = 0.27, 0.51) and 27.31% (95% CI = 0.06, 0.58), respectively. Factors such as age, biological (health issue, family history of psychiatric disorder), individual (poor coping skills), occupational (workplace psychosocial stressors, poor working condition, salary and benefits issue, abuse), environmental (limited access towards healthcare, duration of residence, living condition) and social factor (limited social support) were associated with a mental health outcome in migrant workers. The availability of social support for migrant workers was mainly concentrated in emotional type of support. A high prevalence of depression and anxiety was found among migrant workers across the globe. This finding warrants a collective effort by different parties in providing assistance for migrant workers to promote their mental well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siti Idayu Hasan
- Nicotine Addiction Research Group, Wisma R & D Universiti Malaya, University of Malaya Centre of Addiction Sciences, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Universiti Malaya Centre for Community & Sustainability, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Anne Yee
- Nicotine Addiction Research Group, Wisma R & D Universiti Malaya, University of Malaya Centre of Addiction Sciences, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Ariyani Rinaldi
- Nicotine Addiction Research Group, Wisma R & D Universiti Malaya, University of Malaya Centre of Addiction Sciences, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Adlina Aisya Azham
- Nicotine Addiction Research Group, Wisma R & D Universiti Malaya, University of Malaya Centre of Addiction Sciences, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Farizah Mohd Hairi
- Nicotine Addiction Research Group, Wisma R & D Universiti Malaya, University of Malaya Centre of Addiction Sciences, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Social & Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Amer Siddiq Amer Nordin
- Nicotine Addiction Research Group, Wisma R & D Universiti Malaya, University of Malaya Centre of Addiction Sciences, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Universiti Malaya Centre for Community & Sustainability, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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17
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Drydakis N. Adverse working conditions and immigrants' physical health and depression outcomes: a longitudinal study in Greece. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2021; 95:539-556. [PMID: 34490499 DOI: 10.1007/s00420-021-01757-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Τhe study examines whether adverse working conditions for immigrants in Greece bear an association with deteriorated physical health and increased levels of depression during 2018 and 2019. METHODS A panel dataset resulted from the collaboration with centers providing free Greek language courses to immigrant population groups. Random Effects models assess the determinants of physical health and depression. RESULTS Findings indicate that workers with no written contract of employment, receiving hourly wages lower than the national hourly minimum wages, and experiencing insults and/or threats in their present job experience worse physical health and increased levels of depression. Moreover, the study found that the inexistence of workplace contracts, underpayment, and verbal abuse in the workplace may coexist. An increased risk of underpayment and verbal abuse reveals itself when workers do not have a contract of employment and vice versa. CONCLUSION Immigrant workers without a job contract might experience a high degree of workplace precariousness and exclusion from health benefits and insurance. Immigrant workers receiving a wage lower than the corresponding minimum potentially do not secure a living income, resulting in unmet needs and low investments in health. Workplace abuse might correspond with vulnerability related to humiliating treatment. These conditions can negatively impact workers' physical health and foster depression. Policies should promote written employment contracts and ensure a mechanism for workers to register violations of fair practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick Drydakis
- Faculty of Business and Law, School of Economics, Finance and Law, Centre for Pluralist Economics, Anglia Ruskin University, East Road, Cambridge, CB1 1PT, UK.
- Pembroke College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Centre for Science and Policy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Institute for the Study of Labor, Bonn, Germany.
- Global Labor Organization, Essen, Germany.
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18
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Immigration Policy Vulnerability Linked to Adverse Mental Health Among Latino Day Laborers. J Immigr Minor Health 2021; 24:842-852. [PMID: 34453264 PMCID: PMC8397603 DOI: 10.1007/s10903-021-01254-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Latino day laborers in the United States are socially and economically vulnerable due to exclusionary immigration policies. Using data from a multi-mode survey, we examine the relationship between immigration policy legal vulnerability and mental health outcomes among 138 Latino, male day laborers (mean age = 45.65, SD = 12.05). Multivariable linear and logistic regression models separately estimated the effect of legal vulnerability, as measured by the Perceived Immigration Policy Effects Scale, on anxiety and depression symptoms and a positive depression and anxiety screening, respectively. Approximately 26.1% and 27.9% of day laborers reported depression and anxiety symptoms, respectively. In each adjusted model, we find a positive relationship between legal vulnerability and adverse mental health. Immigration policy legal vulnerability is associated with more depression and anxiety symptoms among Latino day laborers. Policies to reduce legal vulnerability, such as pathways to citizenship and employment authorization, may support Latino day laborers' mental health outcomes.
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19
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Perri M, Metheny N, Matheson FI, Potvin K, O'Campo P. Finding opportunity in the COVID-19 crisis: prioritizing gender in the design of social protection policies. Health Promot Int 2021; 37:6276501. [PMID: 33993289 PMCID: PMC8194510 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daab045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is highlighting the harm perpetuated by gender-blind programs for marginalized citizens, including sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) and cisgender women. Gender-blind programs are known to augment harms associated with violence and structural stigmatization by reinforcing rather than challenging unequal systems of power. The intersecting marginalization of these populations with systems of class, race, and settler-colonialism is exacerbating the impact that policies such as physical distancing, school closures, and a realignment of healthcare priorities are having on the wellbeing of these populations. The overarching reasons why women and SGM are marginalized are well known and stem from a hegemonic, patriarchal system that fails to fully integrate these groups into planning and decision making regarding public health programming-including the response to COVID-19. In this perspective, we aim to highlight how the exclusion of cisgender women and SGM, and failure to use a gender redistributive/transformative approach, has (i) hampered the recovery from the pandemic and (ii) further entrenched the existing power structures that lead to the marginalization of these groups. We also argue that COVID-19 represents a once-in-a-century opportunity to realign priorities regarding health promotion for cisgender women and SGM by using gender redistributive/transformative approaches to the recovery from the pandemic. We apply this framework, which aims to challenge the existing power structures and distribution of resources, to exemplars from programs in health, housing, employment, and incarceration to envision how a gender redistributive/transformative approach could harness the COVID-19 recovery to advance health equity for cisgender women and SGM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Perri
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Nick Metheny
- MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada.,School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Flora I Matheson
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada.,Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Patricia O'Campo
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada
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20
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Mullany A, Valdez L, Gubrium A, Buchanan D. Precarious Work, Health, and African-American Men: A Qualitative Study on Perceptions and Experiences. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH SERVICES : PLANNING, ADMINISTRATION, EVALUATION 2021; 51:135-145. [PMID: 33327847 PMCID: PMC8649942 DOI: 10.1177/0020731420981850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Precarious work has steadily grown in the United States since the rise of neoliberal policies. The continued expansion of this type of work has led to precarious employment as a recognized category within social determinants of health work and to a growing literature within public health research. African-American men are disproportionately vulnerable to precarious work, which in turn contributes to adverse health effects. Nevertheless, African-American men's experiences of employment and the perceived impact on their well-being remain underexplored. This study was part of the formative exploratory phase of a 5-year community-based participatory research project to examine the biopsychosocial determinants of stress among low/no-income, African-American men. Through thematic analysis of 42 semi-structured interviews, 3 themes emerged: (a) occupational hazards and health, (b) internalization of neoliberal ideology, and (c) constraints of structural factors. Neoliberal economic policies cause material deprivation and exacerbate systemic injustices that disproportionately affect communities of color. The accompanying neoliberal ideology of personal responsibility shapes men's perceptions of success and failure. Public health research must continue to push against health promotion practices that predominantly focus on individual behavior. Rather than exploring only the granularities of individual behaviors, health problems must be examined through prolonged historical, political, economic, and social disenfranchisement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Mullany
- Health Promotion and Policy, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Luis Valdez
- Health Promotion and Policy, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Aline Gubrium
- Health Promotion and Policy, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David Buchanan
- Health Promotion and Policy, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
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21
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Kammogne CL, Marchand A. [Ethnicity and immigration status: How are they associated with work and depressive symptoms?]. Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique 2021; 69:145-153. [PMID: 33744031 DOI: 10.1016/j.respe.2021.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of this research is to determine whether, in the Canadian workforce, cultural identity traits, particularly ethnicity and immigrant status, might modify the association of work with depressive symptoms. METHOD Data were derived from the nine cycles of the National Population Health Survey (NPHS) conducted by Statistics Canada. Based on a sample of 6477 workers, multilevel regression models were brought into being. Analyses were adjusted for family-related factors, non-work social support, and personal characteristics. RESULTS After accounting for potential confounders, ethnicity and work-related factors were distinctly and directly associated with depressive symptoms. Workers belonging to visible minorities had significantly fewer depressive symptoms than their Caucasian counterparts. Unlike Caucasians, they were more often overqualified, less in a position to use their skills, and largely without decision-making authority. On the other hand, all analyses having to do with immigrant status led to inconclusive results. CONCLUSION Ethnicity seems to have some bearing on the association of work with depressive symptoms among members of the Canadian workforce. It might be beneficial to carry out targeted interventions aimed at improving working conditions according to ethnicity and situations involving professional overqualification.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Kammogne
- The School of Industrial Relations, University of Montreal, Montréal (Quebec), Observatory on workplace health and well-being (OSMET), Pavillon Lionel-Groulx, École de relations industrielles CP 6128, H3C 3J7 Succursale Centre-ville Montréal QC, Canada.
| | - A Marchand
- The School of Industrial Relations, University of Montreal, Montreal (Quebec), Public health research institute of the University of Montreal, Montreal (Quebec), Pavillon Lionel-Groulx, École de relations industrielles CP 6128, H3C 3J7 Succursale Centre-ville Montréal QC, Canada
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22
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Ziersch A, Walsh M, Due C, Reilly A. Temporary Refugee and Migration Visas in Australia: An Occupational Health and Safety Hazard. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH SERVICES 2021; 51:531-544. [PMID: 33509018 DOI: 10.1177/0020731420980688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Employment and work-related exploitation and discrimination are important social determinants of health. However, little is known about the experiences of people on temporary visas in Australia, particularly those on refugee visas. This article reports on a study of people living on temporary visas in South Australia and their experiences of workforce exploitation and discrimination and impacts on health. Interviews were conducted with 30 people: 11 on non-refugee temporary visas and 19 on refugee temporary visas. Data was analyzed thematically. Analysis identified experiences of exploitation and discrimination in the Australian labor market that included difficulties securing work, underpayment, overwork, and hazardous workplaces. These experiences had negative health effects, particularly on mental health. None had made a formal complaint about their treatment, citing the precarity of their visas, difficulties finding an alternative job, and lack of knowledge about what to do. The impacts were especially evident for refugees who were also grappling with pre-settlement trauma and ongoing uncertainties about their future protection. Overall, these findings of discrimination and exploitation in the workplace and subsequent ill health highlight the pervasive impact of neoliberal agendas and stress the need for industrial, immigration, and welfare reform to protect workers on temporary visas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Ziersch
- Flinders University College of Medicine and Public Health, Health Sciences Building, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Moira Walsh
- Flinders University College of Medicine and Public Health, Health Sciences Building, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Clemence Due
- School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Alex Reilly
- School of Law, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
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23
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Greer A, Bungay V, Pauly B, Buxton J. 'Peer' work as precarious: A qualitative study of work conditions and experiences of people who use drugs engaged in harm reduction work. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2020; 85:102922. [PMID: 32911320 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we examine the qualitative accounts of people who use drugs engaged in 'peer' work in harm reduction settings across British Columbia, Canada. We found peer work was precarious, characterized by nonstandard or casual work arrangements, high job instability and insecurity, insufficient wages, and limited social benefits. Participants were reluctant to exercise their rights or negotiate work conditions, such as higher wages or more consistent work, out of fear of job loss. However, the flexibility of peer work was beneficial for some in that it worked within their life circumstances and provided a low-barrier entry into the labor market. If inequities in peer work are perpetuated, unrecognized and unaddressed, precarious work conditions may continue to undermine the potential benefits of harm reduction work for organizations, peer workers and the people to whom they engage with and support. This study adds people who use drugs to the many social groups that are impacted by precarious work conditions globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Greer
- School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby BC, V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | - V Bungay
- School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, T201-2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada
| | - B Pauly
- School of Nursing, University of Victoria, O Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria BC V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - J Buxton
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
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Koseoglu Ornek O, Weinmann T, Waibel J, Radon K. Precarious employment and migrant workers' mental health: a protocol for a systematic review of observational studies. Syst Rev 2020; 9:50. [PMID: 32145747 PMCID: PMC7060985 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-020-01313-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Precarious employment has become an urgent public health issue at a global scale with potential consequences for quality of life and health of employees, especially in vulnerable groups such as migrants. The primary aim of this systematic review is thus to analyze and summarize existing research on the association between precarious employment and migrant workers' mental health. METHODS We will search PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science (from January 1970 onwards) for original articles on observational studies (e.g., cohort, case-control and cross-sectional, and qualitative) published in English, German, Turkish, and Spanish. The primary outcome will be depression and anxiety disorders. Secondary outcomes will be burnout, sleeping problems, and occupational stress. Two reviewers will independently screen all citations, full-text articles, and abstract data. Potential conflicts will be resolved through discussion. The methodological quality (or risk of bias) of individual studies will be appraised using an appropriate tool. A narrative synthesis will summarize and explain the characteristics and findings of the studies. If feasible, we will conduct random effects meta-analyses where appropriate. DISCUSSION This systematic review will analyze the ways in which precarious employment affects migrant workers' mental health and the process that underlies this relationship. The results from the systematic review outlined in this protocol will be of interest to labor and health professionals, policy makers, labor unions, and non-governmental organizations. Our findings may encourage and impel related policy makers to establish human-focused, safe and healthy work environments, and workplace conditions. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO, CRD42019132560.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozlem Koseoglu Ornek
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology & NetTeaching Unit, Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, 80336 Munich, Germany
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Istanbul Bilgi University, Dolapdere Kampus, Hacıahmet Mahallesi, Pir Hüsamettin Sokak No: 20, 34440 Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Tobias Weinmann
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology & NetTeaching Unit, Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Julia Waibel
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology & NetTeaching Unit, Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Katja Radon
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology & NetTeaching Unit, Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, 80336 Munich, Germany
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25
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Rodríguez-Campo VA, Valenzuela-Suazo SV. Migrantes y sus condiciones de trabajo y salud: revisión integrativa desde la mirada de enfermería. ESCOLA ANNA NERY 2020. [DOI: 10.1590/2177-9465-ean-2019-0299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
RESUMEN Objetivo Analizar la producción científica, indexada, asociada a las condiciones laborales y de salud en migrantes. Metodo Revisión integrativa de artículos publicados en el periodo 2009 a 2019, utilizando bases de indización Medline/PUBMED; ScIELO; SCOPUS utilizando los descriptores MeSH y DeCS: Condiciones de Trabajo, Estado de Salud, Inmigrantes. Resultados Se obtuvo un total de 21 estudios., distribuidos en 17 en Medline/PUBMED; 3 en ScIELO y 1 en SCOPUS. La mayoría de artículos cuantitativo fueron realizados en Brasil y España. La discriminación, explotación, mala calidad de vida, nivel de educación, mala autopercepción de salud, fueron principales resultados. Conclusiones Existe una falta de estudios que evidencien la realidad ocurrida en América Latina, para enfermería como disciplina y profesión se abre un gran desafío para estudiar a la población trabajadora migrante, pues permitirá entregar evidencias de este grupo humano, se lograrán generar intervenciones que favorezcan la salud de esta población y se podrán promover conductas saludables a nivel laboral e individual
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Gesualdi-Fecteau D, Nakache D, Matte Guilmain L. Travel Time as Work Time? Nature and Scope of Canadian Labor Law's Protections for Mobile Workers. New Solut 2019; 29:349-370. [PMID: 31403378 DOI: 10.1177/1048291119867750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The spectrum of employment-related geographical mobility ranges from hours-long daily commutes to journeys that take workers away from home for an extended period of time. Although distance and travel conditions vary, there is a strong consensus within existing literature that mobility has physical, psychological, and social repercussions. However, is time spent traveling considered as working time? This question is crucial as it dictates whether or not workers can effectively access different sets of labor rights. The objective of this paper is twofold. First, contributing to a deeper understanding of travel time by offering a more sustained and complex representation of the various employment-related travel schemes. Second, assessing the circumstances under which travel time counts as work time with regard to the employment standards legislation in force in four Canadian provinces: Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, and British Colombia.
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Lane R. Fear, Boldness, and Familiarity: The Therapeutic Landscapes of Undocumented Latina Immigrants in Atlanta, Georgia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH SERVICES 2019; 49:516-537. [DOI: 10.1177/0020731419850463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Drawing from 56 semi-structured interviews, this article details how undocumented Latina immigrants living in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2013 cultivated health and well-being in an insecure environment. In addition to the myriad challenges that immigrants face in accessing health care in their new communities, undocumented immigrants living in Atlanta at that time faced the legal barrier presented by Georgia’s new “show me your papers” law, which imbued public space with the risk of deportation for those who are undocumented. This law complicated health care access by making the trip to the doctor’s office risky. Immigrants’ health care decisions were thus shaped by the “geography of fear” that permeated their new communities. This fear presented itself not only in public space but also in clinics and hospitals, where many immigrants feared – and sometimes received – bad treatment. Despite the obstacles fear and immigrant policing presented, many of the women I interviewed showed boldness in their health care decisions, staking their claim to medical attention where they saw fit. Additionally, many maintained transnational networks and continued with familiar health practices from home. Combined, these strategies worked to create complex and shifting “therapeutic landscapes” in an environment permeated by insecurity and fear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Lane
- Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning, U.S. Marine Corps University, Quantico, VA, USA
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Salami B, Salma J, Hegadoren K. Access and utilization of mental health services for immigrants and refugees: Perspectives of immigrant service providers. Int J Ment Health Nurs 2019; 28:152-161. [PMID: 29984880 DOI: 10.1111/inm.12512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Immigrant and refugee populations experience life stressors due to difficult migration journeys and challenges in leaving one country and adapting to another. These life stressors result in adverse mental health outcomes when coupled with a lack of adequate support-enhancing resources. One area of support is access to and use of mental health services to prevent and address mental health concerns. Immigrant service providers in Canada support the integration and overall well-being of newcomers. This study focuses on immigrant service providers' perceptions of access to and use of mental health services for immigrants and refugees in Alberta. A qualitative descriptive design was used to collect and analyse the perspectives of 53 immigrant service providers recruited from nine immigrant serving agencies in Alberta between November 2016 and January 2017. Data were collected using a combination of individual interviews and focus groups, followed by thematic data analysis to identify relevant themes. Barriers to access and use of mental health services include language barriers, cultural interpretations of mental health, stigma around mental illness, and fear of negative repercussions when living with a mental illness. Strategies to improve mental health service delivery include developing community-based services, attending to financial barriers, training immigrant service providers on mental health, enhancing collaboration across sectors in mental health service delivery, and advancing the role of interpreters and cultural brokers. Overall, immigrant service providers present a nuanced view of the complex and inter-related barriers immigrants and refugees experience and identify potential approaches to enhancing mental health service delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bukola Salami
- Faculty of Nursing, Level 3, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jordana Salma
- Faculty of Nursing, Level 3, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kathleen Hegadoren
- Faculty of Nursing, Level 3, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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