Factors associated with symptoms of poor mental health among women factory workers in China’s supply chain

Abstract

Objective Foreign direct investment (FDI) to China has motivated increased labor migration to export processing zones (EPZs). Work environments with high occupational stress, such as production line jobs typical in EPZs, have been associated with adverse mental health symptoms. Methods A cross-sectional survey that examined occupational stress and symptoms of poor mental health was implemented among Chinese women factory workers in three electronic factories in the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area. Symptoms of mental health measured in the survey were hopelessness, depression, not feeling useful or needed, and trouble concentrating. Crude and adjusted prevalence odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated with logistic regression. Results Responses were collected from 696 women factory workers. Participants were aged 18–56 years (mean 28 ± 5.8), 66% of whom were married and 25% of whom were migrants. Nearly 50% of participants reported at least one symptom of poor mental health. After adjusting for covariates associated with each outcome in the bivariate analysis, high job strain was associated with hopelessness (OR 2.68, 95% CI 1.58, 4.56), not feeling useful (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.22, 3.43), and feeling depressed (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.16, 2.72). Conclusion This study expands on the international body of research on the well-being of women working in the global supply chain and provides evidence on the associations between occupational stressors, migration, and social support on symptoms of poor mental health among women workers. Future research to better understand and improve psychological health and to prevent suicide among workers in China’s factories is critical to improve the health of China’s labor force.

Mental health at the workplace, person-organization-fit and labor productivity growth: evidence from the Egyptian soap and detergents industry during COVID-19

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“…Job insecurity was very common, regardless of the type of precarious contract (32,38,89,90,93,98). Nine quantitative studies (25, 33, 57, 66-68, 74, 75, 80) reported job insecurity, and five of them provided the prevalence of job insecurity (25,57,67,74,75). Seven studies reported an association between job insecurity and mental health problems (33, 57, 66-68, 75, 80).…”

Effects of virtual reality natural experiences on factory workers’ psychological and physiological stress

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“…Constant work stress and pressure result in both physical and mental exhaustion, a lack of work-life balance, and decreased employee productivity ( Bhui et al, 2016 ; Bolliger et al, 2022 ; Kim and Jung, 2022 ). Hopelessness, not feeling useful, and feeling depressed in the work environment are considered factors associated with symptoms of work-related stress among factory workers ( Sznajder et al, 2022 ), highlighting the need for interventions to alleviate poor mental health symptoms among workers in high-pressure occupational environments.…”