Using Three Cross-Sectional Surveys to Compare Workplace Psychosocial Stressors and Associated Mental Health Status in Six Migrant Groups Working in Australia Compared with Australian-Born Workers

Alison Daly, Renee N. Carey, Ellie Darcey, HuiJun Chih, Anthony D. LaMontagne, Allison Milner and Alison Reid
Additional contact information
Alison Daly: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
Renee N. Carey: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
Ellie Darcey: Centre for Genetic Origins of Health and Disease, School of Biomedical Science, Curtin University and The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
HuiJun Chih: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
Anthony D. LaMontagne: Centre for Population Health Research, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
Allison Milner: Centre for Health Equity, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
Alison Reid: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 5, 1-15

Abstract: Migrant workers may be more likely to be exposed to workplace psychosocial stressors (WPS) which have an affect on physical and mental health. Given the relative lack of research on this topic, the study objectives were to estimate and compare the prevalence of WPS in migrant and Australian workers and investigate associated mental health problems. Three cross-sectional surveys, two with migrant workers and one with Australian workers, were pooled to provide estimates of prevalence. Regressions were conducted to investigate associations between workers and WPS. All WPS, except unfair pay, were associated with higher probability of mental health problems. The association between WPS and mental health did differ between some migrant groups. Compared with Australian-born workers, all other migrant groups tended to have a lower risk of mental health outcomes. Interactions between WPS and migrants showed variable levels in the risk of having a mental health problem, some attenuated and some increased. The study showed that country of birth does play a part in how treatment in the workplace is perceived and responded to. Any interventions to improve workplace conditions for migrant workers need to be aware of the different experiences related to migrant ethnicity.

Keywords: migrant workers; workplace psychosocial stressors; mental health; cross-sectional surveys (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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