Factors associated with symptoms of poor mental health among women factory workers in China’s supply chain
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...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
2022
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/143666 |
| _version_ | 1826200498375491584 |
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| author | Sznajder, K. K. Harlow, S. D. Wang, J. Tso, L. Ashagre, Y. Han, C. |
| author2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Anthropology Program |
| author_facet | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Anthropology Program Sznajder, K. K. Harlow, S. D. Wang, J. Tso, L. Ashagre, Y. Han, C. |
| author_sort | Sznajder, K. K. |
| collection | MIT |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T11:37:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | mit-1721.1/143666 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T11:37:24Z |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publisher | Springer Berlin Heidelberg |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/1436662023-03-28T15:25:16Z Factors associated with symptoms of poor mental health among women factory workers in China’s supply chain Sznajder, K. K. Harlow, S. D. Wang, J. Tso, L. Ashagre, Y. Han, C. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Anthropology Program 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. 2022-07-12T12:03:44Z 2022-07-12T12:03:44Z 2022-01-10 2022-07-12T03:17:44Z Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/143666 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." en https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-021-01820-w 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. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature application/pdf Springer Berlin Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg |
| spellingShingle | Sznajder, K. K. Harlow, S. D. Wang, J. Tso, L. Ashagre, Y. Han, C. Factors associated with symptoms of poor mental health among women factory workers in China’s supply chain |
| title | Factors associated with symptoms of poor mental health among women factory workers in China’s supply chain |
| title_full | Factors associated with symptoms of poor mental health among women factory workers in China’s supply chain |
| title_fullStr | Factors associated with symptoms of poor mental health among women factory workers in China’s supply chain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors associated with symptoms of poor mental health among women factory workers in China’s supply chain |
| title_short | Factors associated with symptoms of poor mental health among women factory workers in China’s supply chain |
| title_sort | factors associated with symptoms of poor mental health among women factory workers in china s supply chain |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/143666 |
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