Community Mental Health Journal
Volume 54, Issue 5, 2018, Pages 590-599

Migrant Live-in Caregivers Mental Health in Canada (Article)

Vahabi M.* , Wong J.P.-H. , Lofters A.
  • a Faculty of Community Services, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada, Graduate Program in Immigration and Settlement Studies, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada, Ryerson Centre for Global Health and Health Equity, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • b Faculty of Community Services, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada
  • c Centre for Research on Inner City Health, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Department of Family and Community Medicine, St. Michael Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada, Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada

Abstract

Empirical evidence suggests rapid health decline among temporary migrant workers but there is limited knowledge about their mental health. This study explored live-in care givers’ (LCs) mental health and its determinants. Using a mixed methods design, a purposeful sample of 30 LCs was recruited. Data were collected through a selfcompleted questionnaire. A third of participants reported their mental health as poor or fair. Almost half experienced major depression. The poor mental health was associated with the average working hours and living accommodation. The average resiliency scores was moderately high and appeared to function as a protective factor against mental illness. Our findings suggest LCs are at risk of compromised mental health associated to their substandard working and living conditions. These conditions originates from violation of employment contracts, unfair employment practices, and the lack of enforcement of LCs’ legal and human rights. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Author Keywords

Resiliency Live-in caregivers Working and living conditions Social exclusion Mental health

Index Keywords

depression Caregivers mental health human Self Report middle aged statistics and numerical data health status housing Cross-Sectional Studies Surveys and Questionnaires cross-sectional study Humans psychology Canada female questionnaire adult migration Analysis of Variance Transients and Migrants caregiver
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85041334022&doi=10.1007%2fs10597-017-0225-5&partnerID=40&md5=db350e83152c0bfd8a8d0a92f250cf57
DOI: 10.1007/s10597-017-0225-5
ISSN: 00103853
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English