Migrant farmwork is often characterized by harsh working conditions that carry significant physical and mental health consequences. Using a learned helplessness framework, the current study examined the extent to which discrimination, immigration legal status difficulties, and adverse childhood experiences moderated the effects of harsh working conditions on depression and anxiety. The study also examined the extent to which harsh working conditions mediated the effects of discrimination, immigration legal status difficulties, and adverse childhood experiences on depression and anxiety. Participants were 241 migrant farmworkers recruited in the Midwest. Participants completed interviews consisting of the Migrant Farmworker Stress Index (MFWSI), Adverse Childhood Events Scale (ACEs), Everyday Discrimination Scale, the Centers for Epidemiology Scale for Depression (CES-D), and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7). Tests of indirect effects suggested, working conditions mediated the effects of ACEs, immigration legal status fears, and discrimination on CES-D and GAD-7 scores (p values < .05). Higher ACEs and discrimination also appeared to be associated with larger effects of harsh working conditions on depression and anxiety (p values < .05), while legal status fears did not significantly moderate the effect of harsh working conditions on either outcome (p values > .05). Likely through different mechanisms, adverse childhood experiences, discrimination and immigration legal status are associated with higher risk of harsh working conditions and subsequently these conditions account for much of the relations between these 3 stressors with depression and anxiety. Additionally, discrimination and adverse childhood experiences appear to then enhance the effects of working conditions.
The current study examines the moderating role of traditional machismo on mental health outcomes. We hypothesized that machismo would enhance the effects of stressors that are incongruent with traditional machismo beliefs (discrimination, adverse childhood experiences [ACEs], and fear of deportation) on depression and anxiety outcomes but would not enhance stressors that are congruent (harsh working conditions and poverty) on depression and anxiety. Participants were 190 male Mexican migrant farmworkers. As hypothesized, endorsing high traditional machismo was associated with stronger effects of fear of deportation and discrimination on depression outcomes compared with low traditional machismo. The interaction of machismo and ACEs was not significant in predicting depression or anxiety. Moreover, machismo did not moderate the effects of poverty or harsh working conditions on depression or anxiety outcomes. Results partially supported our hypotheses and suggested that the effect of machismo on depression may be better understood in the context of value-incongruent stressors.
Treatments of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) often evidence high rates of dropout, ranging from 25% to 40%, among English-speaking samples. Written Exposure Therapy (WET), a novel manualized treatment for PTSD, evidences lower dropout rates and noninferiority to CPT, one of the most efficacious interventions for PTSD. Spanish-speaking Latinxs often experience greater dropout and barriers to care. WET appears promising for this population, but acceptability and perceived barriers to WET have not been examined among Spanish-speaking Latinxs. The present study assessed perceptions and acceptability of a Spanish-language version of WET among Spanish-speaking Latinxs who scored greater than 45 on the Spanish-language version of the PCL-IV, indicating likely PTSD (n = 20) and providers (n = 12). Participants completed a mixed-methods interview regarding reasons they/clients would not want to receive the treatment, why they/clients would want to receive the treatment, potential solutions for any identified barriers, and reasons for not seeking mental health services generally. Providers, but not potential recipients, identified low literacy as a barrier for WET. Providers and potential recipients identified time as a barrier to WET and other mental health services, but the time reduction was perceived as a potential facilitator of WET. Results also suggest no specific cultural barriers were identified for WET (e.g., provider cultural competency) and that Spanish WET may reduce time-related barriers and is perceived as effective and acceptable among Spanish-speaking Latinxs. Additional work is needed to expand the reach of the intervention, given that mental health services were often perceived as untrustworthy. Impact StatementThis study suggests that a Spanish-language adaptation of Written Exposure Therapy, a novel manualized treatment for PTSD symptoms, may be effective in reducing some structural barriers that Spanish-speaking Latinx populations encounter when using mental health services.
The Migrant Farmworker Stress Inventory (MFWSI) was developed to measure the distinct stressors faced by migrant farmworkers. The most appropriate measurement and factor structure, however, has been primarily examined with exploratory methods with no studies of confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) to date. The present study built on prior exploratory factor analytic approaches using the MFWSI by applying CFA and other tests of validity to better delineate the component parts of migrant farmworker stress that contribute to anxiety and depression. Participants were 241 Latino migrant farmworkers recruited from rural farmworker campsites in Nebraska. Initially, neither of the previously identified factor structures fit the data well. Following model respecification, only three factors remained from the original exploratory approaches. These models produced both common and unique factors, which were combined to produce a four-factor model. Results suggest that rural migrant farmworker stress may operate with at least four distinct domains: (a) economic difficulties, (b) immigration and legal status, (c) parenting and child difficulties, and (d) social isolation and related challenges. Finally, only economic difficulties predicted depression and anxiety scores, such that those reporting more stress around economic difficulties reported higher depression and anxiety symptoms. Results point to the need for additional measurement and construct refinement to inform empirical, clinical, policy, and social advocacy work. Public Health Significance StatementWe have identified four distinct domains of stress that migrant farmworkers experience, which are economic difficulties, immigration and legal status concerns, parenting and child difficulties, and social isolation and related challenges. In order to effectively reduce these stressors, comprehensive reform needs to occur at the state and federal level, including immigration reform, better oversight of H-2 A visa program, and better access to childcare services in agricultural communities.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.