Frontiers in Public Health (Oct 2015)

Going beyond the injury: regulatory conditions contributing to Latina/o immigrants’ occupational psychosocial stressors

  • Airin Denise Martinez,
  • Abdel ePiedramartel,
  • Jacqueline eAgnew

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2015.00240
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3

Abstract

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BACKGROUND: Utilizing a psychosocial stress approach, we report psychosocial stressors that Latina/o immigrant day laborers in Baltimore report as workplace hazards and the contextual factors that shape these stressors. METHODS: Through a community-academic partnership, we conducted focus groups (n=18) and key informant interviews (n=9) using instruments developed between academics and the community partner to inquire Latina/o immigrants’ jobs, hazard awareness, occupational illnesses and injuries, and reporting behaviors. We conducted a transcript-based thematic analysis.RESULTS: The psychosocial stressors that Latina/o day laborers report as dangers at work are anxiety beating the deadline and fear from wage theft, sudden termination and immigration enforcement.DISCUSSION: More attention needs to be given to Latina/o immigrant day laborers’ occupational psychosocial risks. Policies should be made to lower barriers for Latina/o immigrants to report grievances to state agencies.

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