Acculturative Stress, Work‐related Psychosocial Factors and Depression in Korean‐Chinese Migrant Workers in Korea

Abstract

Acculturative Stress, Work‐related Psychosocial Factors and Depression in Korean‐Chinese Migrant Workers in Korea: Hyeonkyeong LEE, et al. Yonsei University College of Nursing, Korea— Objectives The purposes of this study were to identify the relationships among acculturative stress, work‐related psychosocial factors and depression in Korean‐Chinese migrant workers living in Korea and to determine whether work‐related psychosocial factors mediate the relationship between acculturative stress and depression. Methods A descriptive correlational cross‐sectional design was used. A convenience sample of 200 Korean‐Chinese full‐time migrant workers was recruited, and 170 completed questionnaires were included in the analysis. Acculturative stress was assessed by Sandh and Asrabadi's Acculturative Stress Scale. Work‐related psychosocial factors were assessed by job demand, insufficient job control and interpersonal conflict measures from the Korean Occupational Stress Scale. Depression was assessed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Self‐administered or face‐to‐face surveys were conducted by trained data collectors. Multiple regression and path analysis were used. Results Roughly 30% of the sample met the criteria for depression. Female workers had significantly higher depression scores than male workers. Acculturative stress and work‐related psychosocial factors significantly predicted 26.3% of the variance in depression. A path model revealed the mediating effect of job demand on the relationship between acculturative stress and depression. Conclusions Our results indicate that Work‐related psychosocial factors are salient factors that lead to depression among Korean‐Chinese migrant workers living in Korea. The results suggest that occupational health‐care professionals should promote the prevention and management of depression in this population and highlight the importance of acculturation context in the development of interventions designed to reduce Work‐related stress.

Influence of a community‐based stretching intervention on the health outcomes among Korean‐Chinese female migrant workers in South Korea: A randomized prospective trial

“…As described in earlier publications (Lee et al , , 2014), multiple intervention components were delivered differently according to the time (adoption vs maintenance) and group (EI vs SI): stretching exercises with both groups for 24 weeks; work‐related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) education with both groups for the adoption phase; phone counseling and mobile phone text messaging only with the EI group for the adoption phase; and acculturation workshops for the EI group only during the maintenance phase.…”

“…The negative influence of acculturative stress on health has been well reported in recent studies of Asian migrant populations. Migrants with high acculturative stress are more likely to experience mental health problems (Chae, Park, & Kang, 2014;Lee, Ahn, Miller, Park, & Kim, 2012;Tonsing, 2013) and are less likely to practice health-seeking behaviors (Maneze et al, 2015). Acculturative stress is also related to a low level of physical activity (Daniel & Wilbur, 2011).…”

Migrant Workers and Psychological Health: A Systematic Review

“…For example, Lee H analyzed 200 Korean-Chinese full-time migrant workers; roughly 30% of the sample met the criteria for depression, especially women; there were moderate positive correlations between depression and job demand (p < 0.001), insufficient job control (p = 0.003), interpersonal conflict (p = 0.001), and acculturative stress (p < 0.001) [91].…”

Discourse on culture in research on immigrant and migrant workers’ health

“…In addition, 24 articles (22%) discussed acculturation, mostly in terms of health and safety risks and responses. While some described acculturation issues among immigrant or migrant workers as context, others discussed it as a determinant of the work performed, hazards or stressors to which workers are exposed, or as a cause or contributing factor to poor physical and mental health . For example, Quandt et al wrote, in the context of their study on skin disease among Latino immigrant manual workers:

“In a subsample of this study sample who received a clinical skin evaluation, indigenous language was associated with a greater overall level of skin disease, including both infectious and inflammatory conditions [Pichardo‐Geisinger et al, 2013].

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