Working and Living Conditions and Psychological Distress in Latino Migrant Day Laborers. (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Organista, Kurt C.; Jung, Woojin; Neilands, Torsten B.
• Is Part Of: Health education & behavior. Volume 46:Number 4(2019:Aug.)
• Page Start: 637
• Page End: 647
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: Latino migrant day laborers -- living conditions -- psychological distress -- structural vulnerability -- working conditions; Health education -- Periodicals; Health behavior -- Periodicals; 613.05
• DOI: 10.1177/1090198119831753
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1090-1981

Abstract

Background . Little research has been conducted on relations between challenging working and living conditions and psychological distress in Latino migrant day laborers (LMDLs), a particularly marginalized Latino population in the United States. Aims . Consistent with a structural-environmental framework of LMDL vulnerability to health and mental health problems, this study tests a model of hypothesized pathways between working and living conditions and multiple forms of psychological distress. Method . Structural equation modeling was used to test the conceptual model with 344 LMDLs who participated in a cross-sectional survey in the San Francisco Bay Area. Results . As hypothesized, results reveal pathways between (1) working and living conditions; (2) working and living conditions and depression, as well as desesperación (desperation), the latter a Latino cultural idiom of distress frequently expressed by LMDLs; and (3) between living conditions and alcohol use. Discussion . Findings increase understanding regarding how challenging working and living conditions contribute to the same, as well as different, forms of psychological distress in LMDLs. Conclusions . Implications for mitigating structural vulnerability to psychological distress can be addressed at multiple social-ecological levels ranging from community-based support for enhancing LMDL employment (e.g., via day labor centers) to expanding the availability of work authorization for undocumented workers.