Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 16, Issue 5, 2014, Pages 822-830

Social isolation among latino workers in rural North Carolina: Exposure and health implications (Article)

Mora D.C.* , Grzywacz J.G. , Anderson A.M. , Chen H. , Arcury T.A. , Marín A.J. , Quandt S.A.
  • a Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Medical Center Boulevard, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States
  • b Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States, Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • c Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • d Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • e Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States, Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • f Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • g Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Medical Center Boulevard, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States, Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States

Abstract

Immigrant Latinos frequently experience social isolation in their receiving communities. This paper investigates the prevalence of social isolation among immigrant workers in a new settlement area and delineates the association between social isolation and physical and mental health outcomes. Interviews were conducted in Spanish with immigrant Latino manual workers (N = 743) in western North Carolina. The CES-D and the SF-12 questionnaires assessed health outcomes. A social isolation scale was used to assess degree of social isolation. Nearly 1 in 5 workers (19.5 %) reported the highest level of social isolation. Social isolation was associated with higher depressive symptoms and poorer physical and mental health, related to quality of life. Social isolation is a common experience among immigrant Latinos that may have negative implications for physical and mental health. Community outreach efforts to minimize experiences of isolation may be useful in protecting immigrant physical and mental health. © 2013, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Health Latino immigrant workers Social isolation

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84873584901&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-013-9784-x&partnerID=40&md5=3bb705a5c6910931055644ee7dc2bd0d
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-013-9784-x
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 14
Original Language: English