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Chronic stress among urban Latino day laborers in Los Angeles County, California

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Frank H. Galvan, PhD , Department of Research and Evaluation, Bienestar Human Services, Inc., Los Angeles, CA
Amy Wohl, MPH, PhD , Division of HIV and STD Programs, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Juli-Ann Carlos, M.P.H. , Division of HIV and STD Programs, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Ying-Tung Chen, M.S. , Department of Research and Evaluation, Bienestar Human Services, Inc., Los Angeles, CA
  

Background:  Urban Latino day laborers endure many hardships as they struggle to adjust as an immigrant community in the United States.  Stress can place day laborers at risk for high allostatic load (a measure of the physiologic effects of chronic stress).  This study sought to identify the extent of chronic stress reported by day laborers and the factors associated with this stress. 

Method:  725 Latino day laborers were interviewed in Los Angeles County, California.  Participants provided information on 21 different potential sources of stress.  Information was also obtained on relevant sociodemographic data as well as HIV-related risk behaviors. 

Results:  The most frequent reported sources of stress were having immigration-related problems (M = 3.53; SD = 1.009); not having enough money to cover basic needs (M = 3.47; SD = 0.834), having no savings (M = 3.46; SD = 0.842) and having work hours change for the worse (M = 3.26; 1.125).  Higher chronic stress was associated with homelessness (b=3.42, SE=.88, p<.001), income levels of $5,000-$10,000 (b=1.84, SE=.68, p<.01) and greater than $10,000 (b=3.12, SE=.77, p<.001) compared to less than $5,000 and engaging in HIV-related risk behaviors in the previous twelve months (b=2.86, SE=1.25, p<.05).  Lower chronic stress was associated with having a partner (b=-1.45, SE=.62, p<.05) or being single (b=-2.06, SE=.60, p=.001) compared to being married. 

Conclusion:  Addressing the stress experienced by day laborers is necessary to prevent potential negative health and mental health consequences among this population.  This will require interventions directed at individual, community and structural levels. 

 

 

Learning Areas:

Diversity and culture

Learning Objectives:
List the four most frequently reported problems experienced by urban Latino day laborers contributing to chronic stress. Identify the four main factors associated with chronic stress among urban Latino day laborers.

Keyword(s): Latinos, Immigrant Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been a Principal Investigator of two studies focusing on the HIV-related risk behaviors and HIV testing patterns of urban Latino day laborers. Both studies have been funded by the California HIV/AIDS Research Program (CHRP) of the University of California, Office of the President. These have resulted thus far in three publications in peer-reviewed journals on data from these research projects. I have also been a Co-Investigator on other studies with Latino immigrant men.
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.

Back to: 5176.0: Health of Latinos across North American geographical contexts