Focusing the lens on the invisible: Exploring the impact of job stress among Hispanic/Latina blue-collar workers

Job stress, commonly associated with low-control, high-demand positions with few opportunities for advancement—all hallmarks of blue-collar work—have been correlated with women's risk for health conditions, such as coronary heart disease to musculoskeletal disorders. Research on the impact of job stress on Hispanic/Latina blue-collar workers has shown that Hispanic women face many of the same stressors as other women; however, they encounter additional strains, such as discrimination, lack of social support, and language barriers. Rapid growth in the number of women of Hispanic/Latina origin in the blue-collar workforce suggests the need for focused exploration to understand the sources and effects of their job stress and also to see how this stress impacts Hispanic/Latina blue-collar workers lives both at work and home. Partnering with community-based organizations in three states across the U.S., focus groups were conducted to yield a greater understanding of: 1) the sources of job stress, 2) factors that cause stress unique to the Hispanic community, 3) how stress impacts women's lives and health-related quality of life, 4) strategies women use to cope with job stress, and 5) health programming needs. Reducing job stressors will require an integrated approach, drawing from both individual strategies and organizational approaches. This investigation not only provides a basis for understanding the mental health issues impacting this unique working population but also salient recommendations for the successful development, marketing, and establishment of health promotion programs and policies to address the job stress experienced by Hispanic/Latina blue-collar workers.