title: The effects of work organization on the health of immigrant manual workers: A longitudinal analysis.
abstract: This analysis uses a longitudinal design to examine the associations of work organization and health outcomes among Latino manual workers. Participants included 247 Latino workers who completed baseline and 1-year follow-up interviews and clinical examinations. Health outcome measures were epicondylitis, rotator cuff syndrome, back pain, and depressive symptoms. Independent measures were measures of job demand, job control, and job support. Workers commonly experienced rotator cuff syndrome (6.5%), back pain (8.9%), and depressive symptoms (11.2%); fewer experienced epicondylitis (2.4%). Psychological demand was associated with rotator cuff syndrome; awkward position and decision latitude were associated with back pain. Decreased skill variety but increased decision latitude was associated with elevated depressive symptoms. Work context factors are important for health outcomes among vulnerable workers. Further research is needed to expand upon this work, particularly cultural perspectives on job support.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Family and Community Medicine , Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Arcury
authors.affiliation: b Department of Biostatistical Sciences , Division of Public Health Sciences, Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Haiying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: c Department of Epidemiology and Prevention , Division of Public Health Sciences, Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Dana C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.affiliation: d Department of Neurology , Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine Winston-Salem , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Francis O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: d Department of Neurology , Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine Winston-Salem , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cartwright
authors.affiliation: b Department of Biostatistical Sciences , Division of Public Health Sciences, Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Sara A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Quandt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Health disparity; immigrant health; immigrant workers; longitudinal study; minority health; occupational health; organization of work