Physical and Mental Health of Live-In Female Migrant Domestic Workers: A Randomly Sampled Survey in Hong Kong

Abstract

There has been a rising trend of labor migration globally. Given their alien status within the legal framework of the host countries, migrant domestic workers (MDWs) are especially vulnerable to poor employment conditions that may affect their health status, yet there is still a lack of quantitative evidence in this population hitherto. Using randomly sampled data from a cross-sectional survey of 2,017 live-in female MDWs in Hong Kong, a setting with a high concentration of MDWs, this study examined the association of employment conditions with physical and mental health among the MDWs. We observed poorer physical and mental health status among the MDWs when compared with the general population in Hong Kong. Our findings suggest that employment conditions, including household size, working on the rest day, and housing type, and age were associated with physical health, while employment conditions, including not ever receiving wages on time, frequency of financial remittances, paying the employment agency, having a private room, fulfillment of work-related needs, physical abuse, and discrimination, and sociodemographic characteristics, including age and duration of migration, were associated with mental health. Social support in general did not confound these associations, but religious activities and daily contact with friends were also associated with mental health. Our findings have important implications in designing interventions and policies to improve the physical and mental well-being of this vulnerable migrant population.

“We also deserve help during the pandemic”: The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong

“…Poor living conditions of this nature have been linked to poor mental health outcomes: one study reported that FDWs who were less satisfied with their living accommodations were also more likely to have higher levels of depression [19] . Studies have also shown that FDWs tend to have lower levels of self-reported physical and mental health than the general adult population of Hong Kong, with factors such as a larger household size and increased working hours contributing to poorer physical health [20] . Factors such as withheld wages, the inability to regularly send remittances back home, physical abuse and discrimination contributed to poorer mental health, while daily contact with friends was associated with better mental health [20] .…”

Health stressors, problems and coping strategies of migrant domestic workers: A scoping review

“…The 'healthy immigrant effect' was identi ed as a problematic phenomenon for MDWs in relation to declines in physical health and mental health (23). This scoping review uncovered a research gap that systematic survey data on physical problems, inclusive sexual and reproductive health, faced by MDWs is lacking, despite a vast number of qualitative studies indicating the onset of illnesses after migration.…”

“…The role of MDWs has a unique nature, as both employee and caregiver of their employer, requiring MDWs to employ heavy emotional labour in their relationships with care recipients (22). As such, mental health of MDWs is a major issue (23). In actuality, half of MDWs in China reportedly found it di cult to manage negative emotions (24).…”

Data Collection for Migrant Live-In Domestic Workers: A Three-Stage Cluster Sampling Method

“…The final data set was used in various studies featured in this special issue. Lai and Fong (2020) used the data set to explore the relationship between workplace environment and workers’ experience of aggression and violence; Liao and Gan (2020) focused on MDWs’ life courses in migration; Chung and Mak (2020) examined the effects of employment conditions on the physical and mental health of the MDWs; Ye and Chen (2020) focused on the health effects of the MDWs’ family and friendship networks; and Tong (2020) examined whether MDWs’ human and social capitals are associated with their salary scale, working conditions, and work rights protection.…”