192736 Relationship of job dissatisfaction with physical and psychological health among Filipino immigrants

Monday, November 9, 2009: 12:30 PM

Butch de Castro, PhD, MSN/MPH, RN , School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Gilbert C. Gee, PhD , School of Public Health, Community Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
David T. Takeuchi, PhD , School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
BACKGROUND: This study investigated the relationship between job dissatisfaction and psychological and physical health among Filipino immigrants in the United States. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the Filipino American Community Epidemiological Study were analyzed for 1,381 Filipino immigrants. The primary independent variable of interest was job dissatisfaction. Linear and negative binomial regression analyses were conducted to determine separate associations between job dissatisfaction and the outcomes of psychological distress and physical health conditions, respectively. RESULTS: Job dissatisfaction was positively associated with both psychological distress (beta = 0.32, p < .001) and physical health conditions (beta = 0.42, p < .001), controlling for sociodemographic variables such as age, gender, education, income, and job category. CONCLUSIONS: This community-based study demonstrated that job dissatisfaction has implications for health and well-being among an understudied, immigrant group of workers. Findings also suggest that job-related experiences should be considered when examining disparate health for immigrant, minority populations.

Learning Objectives:
(1) Explain how workplace factors operate as principal determinants for physical and psychological health among immigrant, minority workers. (2) Describe the importance of job dissatisfaction for well-being as well as work productivity. (3) Discuss the need to address harmful working conditions in order to reduce racial/ethnic health disparities.

Keywords: Immigrants, Occupational Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: My doctoral training is in occupational health and my primary population of reserach interest is immigrant, minority workers. Also, I currently serve as the Director of the Occupational Health Nursing Program at the University of Washington School of Nursing.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.