title: Psychosocial factor exposures in the workplace: differences between immigrants and Spaniards.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to analyse psychosocial factor exposures in the workplace for immigrant workers in Spain and identify differences in exposure at work between immigrants and Spaniards.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multi-stage sample was taken by conglomerates (final sample size: 7555 workers). The information was obtained in 2004 and 2005 using a standardized questionnaire administered by interviewing participants in their homes. The analysis focused on eight psychosocial factors. For quantitative demands and insecurity, the exposure was defined according to the higher third, and for the others, the exposure was defined according to the lower third. The prevalence ratio (PR) and confidence interval (CI) for unfavourable psychosocial factor, both crude and adjusted, were calculated using log binomial models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Those with highest prevalence of unfavourable psychosocial factor were immigrant manual workers, particularly in low possibilities for development (PR=2.87; 95% CI 2.44-3.73), and immigrant women, particularly in low control over working times (PR=1.72; 95% CI 1.55-1.91).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immigrant workers with manual jobs and immigrant women are the groups most exposed to psychosocial factor. In efforts to prevent these exposures, these inequalities should be taken into account.
authors.affiliation: Union Institute of Work Environment and Health (ISTAS), Barcelona, Spain. afontcor@yahoo.es
authors.forename: Ariadna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Font
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moncada
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Llorens
authors.forename: Fernando G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Benavides
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D012649:Self Concept; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult