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Mental health of migrant workers in China: prevalence and correlates

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Abstract

Background

This study aimed to examine the prevalence and the socio-demographic correlates of mental health of migrant workers in Shanghai China.

Methods

A total of 475 migrant workers from four major districts in Shanghai were recruited through a survey design with stratified random sampling. Male and female migrant workers were identified as mentally healthy or unhealthy using the brief symptom inventory. Socio-demographic characteristics and migration stress were explored as correlates of the mental health of the migrant workers.

Results

A total of 73 migrant workers could be classified as mentally unhealthy (25% for men and 6% for women). Male migrant workers who were married (OR 6.16, 95% CI 1.83–20.70), manual laborers (OR 1.56, 95% CI 0.97–2.51), and experienced more stress in “financial and employment-related difficulties” (OR 2.75, 95% CI 1.47–5.14) and “interpersonal tensions and conflicts” (OR 4.18, 95% CI 1.55–11.25) were more likely to be mentally unhealthy, whereas the female migrant workers who experienced more stress in “interpersonal tensions and conflicts” (OR 6.52, 95% CI 0.83–51.14) were more likely to have poor mental health.

Conclusion

The findings provide information for the prevention of mental illness among migrant workers in China. The implications and limitations are also discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing and Social Work, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Level 5, 234 Queensberry Street, Carlton, Melbourne, VIC, 3053, Australia

    Daniel Fu Keung Wong

  2. Dept. of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    Grace Leung, Ying Lau & Yingli Chang

  3. Dept. of Social Work, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China

    Xuesong He

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  1. Daniel Fu Keung Wong
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  2. Xuesong He
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  3. Grace Leung
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  4. Ying Lau
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  5. Yingli Chang
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Correspondence to Daniel Fu Keung Wong.

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Wong, D.F.K., He, X., Leung, G. et al. Mental health of migrant workers in China: prevalence and correlates. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 43, 483–489 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0341-1

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