Gender differences in the association of living and working conditions and the mental health of trafficking survivors

Abstract

Objectives To assess the association of living and working conditions experienced during trafficking with mental health of female and male survivors. Methods We analyzed a cross-sectional study of 1015 survivors who received post-trafficking services in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Modified Poisson regression models were conducted by gender to estimate prevalence ratios. Results For females, the elevated prevalence of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms was associated with adverse living conditions, while for males the prevalence of anxiety (PR = 2.21; 95% CI 1.24-3.96) and depression (PR = 2.63; 95% CI 1.62-4.26) more than doubled and almost tripled for PTSD (PR = 2.93; 95% CI 1.65-5.19) after adjustment. For males in particular, excessive and extreme working hours per day were associated with more than a four-and threefold greater prevalence of PTSD. Being in a detention center or jail was associated with all three mental health outcomes in males. Conclusions Providers and stakeholders need to consider the complex mental health trauma of the differential effects of living and working conditions for female and male survivors during trafficking to support treatment and recovery.

More work, better health? The moderation effect of employee-organizational psychological distance

“…On one hand, this study presents the changing process of the relationship between work hours and occupational mental health, which breaks the previous single explanation mechanism on them (Iglesias-Rios et al, 2019;Widmer et al, 2012). We speculate that this inverted U-shaped relationship between work hours and occupational mental health may be related to activation theory.…”

Creating a Collaborative Trauma-Informed Interdisciplinary Citywide Victim Services Model Focused on Health Care for Survivors of Human Trafficking

“…31 Health care providers who create a safe, comfortable environment for trafficking victims and practice compassionate, trauma-informed, victim-centered care can improve engagement in and access to services. 2,11,12,15,[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] Women and adolescents interviewed immediately after leaving a trafficking situation in Europe reported a substantial reduction in subjective physical and mental health symptoms after 2 months of continued health care. 34 Two victim services models (1 in Miami, Florida, and 1 in Houston, Texas) are funded in part by the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), which is 1 of 6 offices of the US Department of Justice established to enhance victim services.…”

“…31 Health care providers who create a safe, comfortable environment for trafficking victims and practice compassionate, trauma-informed, victim-centered care can improve engagement in and access to services. 2,11,12,15,17-33 Women and adolescents interviewed immediately after leaving a trafficking situation in Europe reported a substantial reduction in subjective physical and mental health symptoms after 2 months of continued health care. 34…”

“…Research indicates that 4 fundamental services for survivors of human trafficking need to be provided: (1) housing; (2) a safe, confidential health care environment with trauma-informed care; (3) a comprehensive needs assessment; and (4) case management to coordinate legal, medical, and social services. 2,9-30 Often, medical care lacks the long-term, consistent, trauma-informed approaches necessary for these medically complex patients. The goal of providing trauma-informed care is to realize, recognize, respond to, and resist retraumatization.…”