Self-perceived Workplace Discrimination and Mental Health Among Immigrant Workers in Italy: a Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

BackgroundThe process of immigration is associated with poor mental and physical health. While the workplace represents an important context of social integration, previous studies evaluating the effect of discrimination experienced in the workplace found worse mental health status among immigrants. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between self-perceived workplace discrimination and other personal experiences, such as self-perceived loneliness, level of life satisfaction, physical health, and mental well-being, among immigrants in Italy.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 12,408 immigrants (aged 15-64) living and working in Italy. Data derived from the first national survey on immigrants carried out by the Italian National Institute of Statistics (Istat). Mental health status was measured through the mental component summary (MCS) of the SF-12 questionnaire. A linear multivariate linear regression was carried out to evaluate the association between mental health status, self-perceived workplace discrimination, and sociodemographic factors; a structural equation model was used to test hypothesized relationships shown in a conceptual path analysis model.ResultsWorse mental health status was independently (p<0.001) associated with self-perceived workplace discrimination (β:-1.873), self-perceived loneliness (β:-3.021), level of life satisfaction (β:-2.775), and physical health status (β:-0.088). As confirmed by the structural equation model, the effect of self-perceived workplace discrimination on MCS was mediated by the other factors considered: self-perceived loneliness (13.6%), level of life satisfaction (13.6%), and physical health status (3.9%).ConclusionsOur study suggests that self-perceived workplace discrimination is associated with worse mental health status in immigrant workers, through personal experiences in the workplace and explain the effect of the exposure to workplace discrimination on immigrants’ psychological well-being. Our findings suggest that an overall public health response is needed to facilitate the social integration of immigrants and their access to health services, particularly those services that address mental health issues.

A review of recent studies on workplace loneliness

“…Addition: there are few literatures on workplace loneliness in 2021. Di Napoli, A., et al investigated whether workplace discrimination in self-awareness had any effect on the mental health of migrants living and working in Italy, and workplace loneliness was one of the regulatory variables [34]. The research situation of Manucci, M. is a workplace after several months of blockade.…”