International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume 16, Issue 5, 2019

Using three cross-sectional surveys to compare workplace psychosocial stressors and associated mental health status in six migrant groups working in Australia compared with Australian-born workers (Article) (Open Access)

Daly A. , Carey R.N. , Darcey E. , Chih H. , Lamontagne A.D. , Milner A. , Reid A.*
  • a School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
  • b School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
  • c Centre for Genetic Origins of Health and Disease, School of Biomedical Science, Curtin University, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
  • d School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
  • e Centre for Population Health Research, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
  • f Centre for Health Equity, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
  • g School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia

Abstract

Migrant workers may be more likely to be exposed to workplace psychosocial stressors (WPS) which have an affect on physical and mental health. Given the relative lack of research on this topic, the study objectives were to estimate and compare the prevalence of WPS in migrant and Australian workers and investigate associated mental health problems. Three cross-sectional surveys, two with migrant workers and one with Australian workers, were pooled to provide estimates of prevalence. Regressions were conducted to investigate associations between workers and WPS. All WPS, except unfair pay, were associated with higher probability of mental health problems. The association between WPS and mental health did differ between some migrant groups. Compared with Australian-born workers, all other migrant groups tended to have a lower risk of mental health outcomes. Interactions between WPS and migrants showed variable levels in the risk of having a mental health problem, some attenuated and some increased. The study showed that country of birth does play a part in how treatment in the workplace is perceived and responded to. Any interventions to improve workplace conditions for migrant workers need to be aware of the different experiences related to migrant ethnicity. © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Author Keywords

Cross-sectional surveys Workplace psychosocial stressors Mental health Migrant workers

Index Keywords

China Occupational Stress survey method New Zealander Chinese vietnamese regression analysis Australia India health risk risk mental health human epidemiology risk assessment middle aged job stress statistics and numerical data mental stress comparative study health status Aged Health Surveys Cross-Sectional Studies Young Adult migrant worker cross-sectional study Humans workplace psychology Adolescent male female Viet Nam prevalence Article Filipino (people) experience adult migration New Zealand outcome assessment Australian ethnicity Transients and Migrants Philippines health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85063613340&doi=10.3390%2fijerph16050735&partnerID=40&md5=7fc47f915646c6c86750fbe70885025d
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16050735
ISSN: 16617827
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English