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Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health

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01-10-2014 | Original Paper

Social Isolation Among Latino Workers in Rural North Carolina: Exposure and Health Implications

Authors: Dana C. Mora, Joseph G. Grzywacz, Andrea M. Anderson, Haiying Chen, Thomas A. Arcury, Antonio J. Marín, Sara A. Quandt

Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health | Issue 5/2014

Abstract

Immigrant Latinos frequently experience social isolation in their receiving communities. This paper investigates the prevalence of social isolation among immigrant workers in a new settlement area and delineates the association between social isolation and physical and mental health outcomes. Interviews were conducted in Spanish with immigrant Latino manual workers (N = 743) in western North Carolina. The CES-D and the SF-12 questionnaires assessed health outcomes. A social isolation scale was used to assess degree of social isolation. Nearly 1 in 5 workers (19.5 %) reported the highest level of social isolation. Social isolation was associated with higher depressive symptoms and poorer physical and mental health, related to quality of life. Social isolation is a common experience among immigrant Latinos that may have negative implications for physical and mental health. Community outreach efforts to minimize experiences of isolation may be useful in protecting immigrant physical and mental health.

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Title: Social Isolation Among Latino Workers in Rural North Carolina: Exposure and Health Implications
Authors: Dana C. Mora
Joseph G. Grzywacz
Andrea M. Anderson
Haiying Chen
Thomas A. Arcury
Antonio J. Marín
Sara A. Quandt
Publication date: 01-10-2014
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health / Issue 5/2014
Print ISSN: 1557-1912
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1920
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-013-9784-x

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Social Isolation Among Latino Workers in Rural North Carolina: Exposure and Health Implications

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