Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Volume 43, Issue 6, 2008, Pages 483-489

Mental health of migrant workers in China: Prevalence and correlates (Article)

Wong D.F.K.* , He X. , Leung G. , Lau Y. , Chang Y.
  • a Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 234 Queensberry Street, Melbourne, VIC 3053, Australia
  • b Dept. of Social Work, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
  • c Dept. of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
  • d Dept. of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
  • e Dept. of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to examine the prevalence and the socio-demographic correlates of mental health of migrant workers in Shanghai China. Methods: A total of 475 migrant workers from four major districts in Shanghai were recruited through a survey design with stratified random sampling. Male and female migrant workers were identified as mentally healthy or unhealthy using the brief symptom inventory. Socio-demographic characteristics and migration stress were explored as correlates of the mental health of the migrant workers. Results: A total of 73 migrant workers could be classified as mentally unhealthy (25% for men and 6% for women). Male migrant workers who were married (OR 6.16, 95% CI 1.83-20.70), manual laborers (OR 1.56, 95% CI 0.97-2.51), and experienced more stress in "financial and employment-related difficulties" (OR 2.75, 95% CI 1.47-5.14) and "interpersonal tensions and conflicts" (OR 4.18, 95% CI 1.55-11.25) were more likely to be mentally unhealthy, whereas the female migrant workers who experienced more stress in "interpersonal tensions and conflicts" (OR 6.52, 95% CI 0.83-51.14) were more likely to have poor mental health. Conclusion: The findings provide information for the prevention of mental illness among migrant workers in China. The implications and limitations are also discussed. © Springer-Verlag 2008.

Author Keywords

Migrant workers China Mental health Migrant stress

Index Keywords

China randomization conflict correlation analysis social life human mental health job stress mental stress manual labor financial management mental health care mental disease Confidence interval marriage migrant worker male female Brief Symptom Inventory risk factor cultural factor prevalence Article interpersonal stress major clinical study adult health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-44949261859&doi=10.1007%2fs00127-008-0341-1&partnerID=40&md5=07a3e612f98bf3e8227ef37376f4bc06
DOI: 10.1007/s00127-008-0341-1
ISSN: 09337954
Cited by: 89
Original Language: English