Factors associated with symptoms of poor mental health among women factory workers in China’s supply chain
Name
420_2021_1820_ReferencePDF.pdf
Size
966.43 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
d44ad5f2f5be432c86260519e729f01e
Author(s)
Sznajder, K. K.
Harlow, S. D.
Wang, J.
Tso, L.
Ashagre, Y.
Han, C.
Date Issued
January 10, 2022
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Citation
Sznajder, K. K., Harlow, S. D., Wang, J., Tso, L., Ashagre, Y. et al. 2022. "Factors associated with symptoms of poor mental health among women factory workers in China’s supply chain."
Version
Author's final manuscript
Abstract
Abstract
Objective
Foreign direct investment (FDI) to China has motivated increased labor migration to export processing zones (EPZs). Work environments with high occupational stress, such as production line jobs typical in EPZs, have been associated with adverse mental health symptoms.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey that examined occupational stress and symptoms of poor mental health was implemented among Chinese women factory workers in three electronic factories in the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area. Symptoms of mental health measured in the survey were hopelessness, depression, not feeling useful or needed, and trouble concentrating. Crude and adjusted prevalence odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated with logistic regression.
Results
Responses were collected from 696 women factory workers. Participants were aged 18–56 years (mean 28 ± 5.8), 66% of whom were married and 25% of whom were migrants. Nearly 50% of participants reported at least one symptom of poor mental health. After adjusting for covariates associated with each outcome in the bivariate analysis, high job strain was associated with hopelessness (OR 2.68, 95% CI 1.58, 4.56), not feeling useful (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.22, 3.43), and feeling depressed (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.16, 2.72).
Conclusion
This study expands on the international body of research on the well-being of women working in the global supply chain and provides evidence on the associations between occupational stressors, migration, and social support on symptoms of poor mental health among women workers. Future research to better understand and improve psychological health and to prevent suicide among workers in China’s factories is critical to improve the health of China’s labor force.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Anthropology Program
Terms of Use
Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-021-01820-w
