Development of an instrument to assess stress, depression, and coping behaviors in Latino migrant and seasonal farmworkers

BACKGROUND: The estimated 3-5 million migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFWs) who support the multi-billion dollar agricultural industry in the U.S. often face very difficult living and working conditions, which increase risk for stress, depression, and mood-related psychological disorders. A solid grasp of the relationship between the occurrence of stressors, depression, and coping behaviors are important for a better understanding of how individual and societal health are impacted by them. Unfortunately, mental health research with MSFWs is limited. In addition, few research instruments designed to collect mental health data have been tested for applicability, cultural relevance, validity, and reliability among MSFWs. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop a culturally appropriate instrument to assess stress, signs/symptoms of depression, and coping behaviors in Latino MSFWs. METHODS: Researchers utilized a comprehensive instrument design framework to develop and pilot test the Migrant Farmerworker Stress, Depression, and Coping Survey with 60 MSFWs in North Carolina. A Principal Components Analysis with direct oblimin rotation was performed to determine item measurement. Alpha reliability coefficients were calculated for subscales. RESULTS: Sixty-seven items assessing stress, depression, coping and locus of control loaded on one of the five statistically extracted factors: Financial and Family Stress; Physical, Work, and Societal Stress; Stress Due to Lack of Documentation and Resources; Depression; and Locus of Control(LOC). Low reliability for LOC items resulted in their exclusion from the final 90-item questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: This newly developed instrument will provide a valuable tool for assessment of stress, depression, and coping among the MSFW population.