Latino migrant farmworker mental health and family separation

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Louise Ward, PhD CRNP, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, 1505 Race St., Mail Stop 501, Philadelphia, PA 19102, 215.762.1240, lsw26@drexel.edu

Latino farmworkers form the backbone of the agricultural workforce that harvests and processes our fresh fruits and vegetables. On the East Coast, about 66% are migratory, either following the crops during the season or establishing a temporary home-away-from-home for the entire season. One valid and enduring generalization about Latino culture is the centrality of the family, yet due to political and employment restrictions, many of these workers are separated from their families for months and even years at a time. How does this affect their mental health?

Using a volunteer sample (n = 78) in the Maryland- New Jersey- Pennsylvania area, bilingual data collectors conducted one-to-one interviews with Latino migrant farmworkers off-hours in labor camps and rented homes. Health-related quality of life measures (CDC's Healthy Days and the Short Form of the Medical Outcomes Survey SF-36) and the Migrant Farmworker Stress Inventory were administered.

Preliminary analysis of these quantitative data indicates that family- and loneliness-related issues are serious concerns in this population. Individually, the variables of stress of being away from friends and being away from family were strongly correlated with poor mental health, and relationship-related concerns accounted for a significant portion of the variance in the SF-36 Mental Health scale. Implications for nursing practice and for policy will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to

1. Recognize political and employment-related factors that contribute to family separation in Latino migrant farmworkers.
2. Describe the relationship of separation from family and friends and poorer mental health.
3. Identify nursing practice measures and policy initiatives that might reduce the stress from family separation in this population.

Keywords: Migrant Farm Workers, Social Justice

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation

Vulnerability and Human Rights

The 134th Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 4-8, 2006) of APHA