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Predicting the Influence of Situational and Immigration Stress on Latino Day Laborers’ Workplace Injuries: An Exploratory Structural Equation Model

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Abstract

Latino day laborers are a socially and economically marginalized immigrant population with a high risk of occupational injury. These workers confront multiple social, psychological, and environmental hardships that increase their risk for adverse health outcomes. How these stressors interact and influence work-related injuries in this population remains unclear. We conducted an exploratory study with 327 Latino day laborers who completed a community survey. We developed a structural equation model, using cross-sectional data to explore the relationships among socioeconomic status, situational and immigration stress, depression, work risk exposure, and occupational injury. The model revealed a statistically significant mediated effect from situational stress to injury through work risk exposure as well as a significant mediated effect from immigration stress through depression to injury. These initial findings suggest that situational and immigration-related stress have a detrimental impact on Latino day laborers’ mental health and workplace safety and, ultimately, increase their risk of occupational injury.

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Funding

The funding for this study was provided to the first author by St. Luke's Episcopal Health Charities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas at Houston School of Public Health, 7000 Fannin St., Suite 2518, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Maria Eugenia Fernández-Esquer, Kathryn R. Gallardo & Pamela M. Diamond

Authors
  1. Maria Eugenia Fernández-Esquer
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  2. Kathryn R. Gallardo
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  3. Pamela M. Diamond
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Correspondence to Maria Eugenia Fernández-Esquer.

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Fernández-Esquer, M.E., Gallardo, K.R. & Diamond, P.M. Predicting the Influence of Situational and Immigration Stress on Latino Day Laborers’ Workplace Injuries: An Exploratory Structural Equation Model. J Immigrant Minority Health 21, 364–371 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-018-0752-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-018-0752-3

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