Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 11, Issue 2, 2009, Pages 131-138
Measuring job characteristics and mental health among latino farmworkers: Results from cognitive testing (Article)
Grzywacz J.G.* ,
Alterman T. ,
Muntaner C. ,
Gabbard S. ,
Nakamoto J. ,
Carroll D.J.
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a
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1084, United States
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b
Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluation and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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c
Center for Addictions and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
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d
Aguirre Division, JBS International, Burlingame, CA, United States
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e
Aguirre Division, JBS International, Burlingame, CA, United States
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f
Department of Labor, Education and Training Administration, Washington, DC, United States
Abstract
Background: Few research instruments used in occupational stress research have been evaluated for acceptability and validity among immigrant Latino farmworkers. Methods: Cognitive testing was completed with 40 migrant and seasonal farmworkers (21 women, 19 men) through two focus groups and 16 one-on-one interviews conducted in Texas and Florida. Participants responded to the K-6, a short form instrument designed to measure psychological distress, selected items from the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) and standard health items. Results: The K-6 items were characterized as too long and using a higher "class" language than farmworkers use. Further, the cultural connotation of several items in the K-6 was viewed as inappropriate by farmworkers. Demand items from the JCQ were interpreted inconsistently, whereas decision latitude items were consistently understood but viewed as irrelevant to farmworkers. Conclusions: The results highlight the difficulties involved in conducting research with immigrant farmworkers, and they suggest that researchers interested in studying antecedents and consequences of farmworker mental health need to select instruments cautiously. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2008.
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https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-60449115611&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-008-9170-2&partnerID=40&md5=a45c49092357de584111a282e6242a9e
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-008-9170-2
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 17
Original Language: English