Associations of Poor Housing with Mental Health Among North Carolina Latino Migrant Farmworkers

摘要

This analysis examines the associations of housing conditions with mental health among migrant farmworkers. Data are from a 2010 cross-sectional study conducted in 16 North Carolina counties. Interviews and housing inspections were completed with 371 farmworkers in 186 camps. Mental health measures included depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, CES-D), anxiety (Personality Assessment Inventory, PAI), and alcohol misuse (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, AUDIT-C). Housing measures were number of people per sleeping room, perceived security of self and belongings, having a key to dwelling's door, having bedroom storage, toilet privacy issues, and number of housing regulation violations. Sixty (16.7%) participants had substantial depressive symptoms (CES-D 10), 31 (8.8%) had substantial anxiety (PAI 27), and 185 (50.1%) had the potential for alcohol misuse (AUDIT-C 4). Those with 5+ persons sleeping per room were more likely to have a depression score 10 (31.5% vs. 13-14%, P = .01) and an anxiety scores 27 (19.6% vs. 5-9%, P = .02). Those who did not feel they or their belongings were secure were more likely to have a depression score 10 (19.4% vs. 9.1%, P = .01). Those without a key were more likely to have an anxiety score 27 (11.5% vs. 5.1%, P = .04). Those with no bedroom storage were more likely to have a depression score 10 (28.9% vs. 14.9%, P = .03). This article suggests links between poor housing and farmworkers' mental health. These results inform regulations surrounding farmworker housing and inform health care providers on how to prevent and treat poor mental health among migrant farmworkers.