Stress Factors Contributing to Depression Among Latino Migrant Farmworkers in Nebraska

Abstract

Migrant farmworkers represent a structurally vulnerable population coming to rural communities to work, but often are economically disadvantaged and socially isolated. Based on survey data from 200 migrant farmworkers in rural Nebraska in 2013, this study seeks to identify and categorize major stressors that have contributed to depression among farmworkers. Over 30% of respondents were identified to have high stress levels as indicated by the Migrant Farmworker Stress Inventory (MFWSI). The MFWSI was categorized into eight domains: economics and logistics; acculturation and social isolation; relationship with partner; health; entertainment; concerns for children; and substance use by others. Nearly half (45.8%) of respondents were depressed. Correlations between the principal component scores of the eight stressor domains and the cumulative depression score were significant for the domains: (1) economics and logistics and (2) health (r = 0.22, p < 0.01). Findings highlight the importance of improving economic and living conditions as well as addressing social and cultural needs by creating more welcoming receiving communities.

Associations of Poor Housing with Mental Health Among North Carolina Latino Migrant Farmworkers

“…35, 37 Withdrawal in turn could be linked to the alcohol misused reported in this paper. 29, 32 As our results show depression is significantly linked to alcohol misuse.…”

“…1, 7, 9, 29–32 The purpose of this paper is to describe the mental health and housing conditions of farmworkers, and to delineate housing factors associated with their mental health. Previous analyses have not reported associations of housing conditions and mental health among farmworkers.…”

“…A house represents a safe place and any intrusions limit the sense of safety, intimacy, and control which could lead to mental health illness, such as depression and anxiety, and alcohol misuse. 32 Housing providing insufficient protection from the outside, from noise, from scrutiny, and from intrusion can be the source of major suffering that can be expressed in manifestations of anxiety, insomnia, paranoid feelings, and social dysfunction. 32 This analysis shows that housing security and depression are significantly associated, and that not having a key to an outside door is correlated to high anxiety.…”

“…32 Housing providing insufficient protection from the outside, from noise, from scrutiny, and from intrusion can be the source of major suffering that can be expressed in manifestations of anxiety, insomnia, paranoid feelings, and social dysfunction. 32 This analysis shows that housing security and depression are significantly associated, and that not having a key to an outside door is correlated to high anxiety. Our findings are corroborated by the existing literature, which documents that fear of crime can cause mental distress.…”

A mixed‐method examination of ego‐resiliency, adjustment problems, and academic engagement in children of Latino migrant farmworkers

“…Taylor and Ruiz () also found that LMFW children ages 8–18 had high levels of both anxiety and depression, and that economic hassles, loneliness, and discrimination were associated positively with poor mental health. Adding to children's risk, LMFW adults report high rates of depression and anxiety (e.g., Hovey, ; Pulgar et al, ; Ramos, Su, Lander, & Rivera, ; Zapata Roblyer et al, ) which can affect children's mental health via genetic risk, increased family stress, and disrupted parenting (Conger, Conger, & Martin, ). However, research on LMFW children's mental health remains limited and has focused on documenting risks rather than addressing resilience factors that may counteract such problems.…”