The health effects of taxi driving: the case of visible minority drivers in Toronto.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between work and health among visible minority taxi drivers.


METHODS
In-depth semi-structured interviews with taxi drivers (10) and industry informants (5), document analysis, and participant observation. Data analysis followed the principles of grounded theory.


RESULTS
The data suggest that factors such as racism/discrimination, the nature of their social position (e.g., immigrant status, language barriers, lack of access to economic resources, lack of 'Canadian' work experience), and the social and organizational characteristics of work (e.g., employment contracts and the nature of work) constituted threats to taxi drivers' health and influenced their health-related behaviours. They experienced economic exploitation, economic uncertainty, occupational violence, fatigue, and high levels of competition, and they engaged in risky behaviours on the job. Taxi drivers also employed various health-protective behaviours in an effort to manage the threats to health.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings are consistent with extant studies of taxi drivers. However, further research is needed to more clearly discern the influence of ethnicity in work-health relationships. The study has implications for population health and is suggestive of areas for further research; e.g., other service-oriented occupations where workers have limited control and little is known about their health or health-related behaviours.
Facey
Marcia E
ME
Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, McMurrich Bldg. Rm. 6, 12 Queen's Park Crescent West, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8. marcy.facey@utoronto.ca
D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D003132:Commerce; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D016272:Occupational Health; D009864:Ontario; D011287:Prejudice; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014754:Violence; D000078329:Workforce