Abstract
Background
To study the relationship between immigration and mental health considering the psychosocial factors in the workplace.
Methods
Multistage cluster sampling was used (final sample: 7,612 workers). Workers whose country of origin was unknown were excluded from the study (study population: 7,555). The information was collected between 2004 and 2005 using a standardized questionnaire, and interviews were conducted in respondents’ homes. The risk of poor mental health according to psychosocial factor, using the native, non-exposed workers as a reference, was calculated using log-binomial models. The prevalence ratio (PR) and confidence intervals (CI 95%) were estimated from crude data and from data adjusted for sex, age, and occupational category.
Results
Immigrants who experienced high quantitative demands (PR = 1.46; CI 95%:1.34–1.59), high emotional demands (PR = 1.42; CI 95%:1.301.56), high demands for hiding emotions (PR = 1.35; CI 95%:1.21–1.50), low possibilities for development (PR = 1.21; CI 95%:1.09–1.33), low levels of support from coworkers (PR = 1.41; CI 95%:1.30–1.53), and low esteem (PR = 1.53; CI 95%:1.42–1.66) perceived worse mental health. Equally, the study found that the immigrants with a high influence (PR = 1.19; CI 95%:1.09–1.29) and high control over working times (PR = 1.25; CI 95%:1.14–1.36) also reported worse mental health. We also found that native workers exposed to these factors also perceived worse mental health than those who were not exposed and that even, at times, they were at greater risk than exposed immigrants.
Conclusions
Differences in mental health between exposed and non-exposed wage earners, whether immigrant or native workers, indicate the importance of taking action to reduce psychosocial factors, as this would benefit both native and immigrant workers.
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Acknowledgments
This research was funded by the Carlos III Health Institute Health Research Fund (Spanish Ministry of Health, PI031499 and PI06152 projects). Thanks to both Andrés Agudelo for his contributions to the results and the discussion sections, and Emily Felt for her revision of the English.
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Font, A., Moncada, S. & Benavides, F.G. The relationship between immigration and mental health: what is the role of workplace psychosocial factors. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 85, 801–806 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-011-0724-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-011-0724-6