title: Work ability of Chinese migrant workers: the influence of migration characteristics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Migrant workers have become a vital labor supply to China's economy. Their migration process and work conditions may influence their health and work ability. The work ability of migrant workers in China and the influence of the migration process on work ability have not been explored extensively in previous studies. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association of migration characteristics and work-related factors with work ability among migrant workers in the Pearl River Delta.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional survey, the study population consisted of 907 migrant workers from ten factories in the Pearl River Delta who were exposed to organic solvents during work. The primary dependent variable of the study was work ability, measured by the Work Ability Index (WAI). The independent variables were individual characteristics, migration characteristics, and work-related factors. Logistic regression models were used to determine the influence of different factors on work ability and three dimensions of WAI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The result shows that among migration characteristics, social support was significantly associated with all three dimensions of the work ability index. Permanent migration intention and longer length of migration were negatively associated with the mental resource dimension of WAI. WAI was also influenced by individual and work-related factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study suggest that expanding migrants' social networks and social support systems in their work place or living community, (i.e. expanding the functions of labor unions) would be an effective way to improve migrant workers' work ability. Improving of migrant workers' physical and psychosocial related work environments would also increase their work ability.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Leiyu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510405, China. lingli@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ling
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016272:Occupational Health; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014171:Transients and Migrants; D014507:Urbanization; D014937:Work; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation; D055815:Young Adult
references.citation: Ann Epidemiol. 1996 Sep;6(5):442-51
references.pmid: 8915476
references.citation: Rev Saude Publica. 2009 Jun;43(3):525-32
references.pmid: 19347177
references.citation: Occup Med (Lond). 2005 Aug;55(5):399-401
references.pmid: 16040772
references.citation: Eur J Cancer. 2007 Mar;43(5):914-20
references.pmid: 17314041
references.citation: Chronobiol Int. 2006;23(6):1165-79
references.pmid: 17190703
references.citation: Occup Environ Med. 2009 Apr;66(4):211-20
references.pmid: 19017690
references.citation: Environ Health Prev Med. 2010 Sep;15(5):263-70
references.pmid: 21432554
references.citation: Occup Med (Lond). 2001 Aug;51(5):318-24
references.pmid: 11473138
references.citation: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2008 Jun;43(6):483-9
references.pmid: 18398559
references.citation: Stud Health Technol Inform. 1998;48:254-7
references.pmid: 10186522
references.citation: Occup Med (Lond). 2006 Mar;56(2):89-93
references.pmid: 16267100
references.citation: Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1998 Dec;52 Suppl:S370-3
references.pmid: 9895197
references.citation: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2007 Sep;42(9):716-22
references.pmid: 17598056
references.citation: World Health Popul. 2006;8(3):14-31
references.pmid: 18277106
references.citation: Health Soc Work. 2008 Nov;33(4):275-85
references.pmid: 19070275
references.citation: Occup Med (Lond). 2001 May;51(3):209-17
references.pmid: 11385126
references.citation: Perspect Psychol Sci. 2009 Jul;4(4):375-8
references.pmid: 20161087
references.citation: J Health Soc Behav. 2010;51 Suppl:S54-66
references.pmid: 20943583
references.citation: Soc Sci Med. 2011 Apr;72(8):1294-301
references.pmid: 21435765
references.citation: Scand J Work Environ Health. 1997;23 Suppl 1:58-65
references.pmid: 9247996
references.citation: Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2006;12(4):417-27
references.pmid: 17156617
references.citation: Scand J Work Environ Health. 1991;17 Suppl 1:128-34
references.pmid: 1792526
references.citation: Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2004 Apr;109(4):243-58
references.pmid: 15008797
references.citation: AJS. 1981 Jul;87(1):48-74
references.pmid: 7258475
references.citation: Psychosom Med. 1995 May-Jun;57(3):245-54
references.pmid: 7652125