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Working Conditions as Risk Factors for Depressive Symptoms among Spanish-Speaking Au Pairs Living in Germany—Longitudinal Study

Author

Listed:
  • Bernarda Espinoza-Castro

    (CIH-LMU Center for International Health, LMU University Hospital Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
    Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU University Hospital Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany)

  • Tobias Weinmann

    (Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU University Hospital Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany)

  • Rossana Mendoza López

    (Center for Translational Research in Oncology, Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, Sao Paulo 01246, Brazil)

  • Katja Radon

    (CIH-LMU Center for International Health, LMU University Hospital Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
    Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU University Hospital Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany)

Abstract

Previous studies have shown poor working conditions and poor mental health among au pairs. However, there are limited longitudinal approaches to these conditions. Therefore, the main objectives of this study were to assess the occurrence of depressive symptoms longitudinally and to analyze the association between sociodemographic characteristics, working conditions and violence at work with depressive symptoms over time among Spanish-speaking au pairs living in Germany. A prospective cohort study was performed with three measurement intervals, which included 189 participants. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) models were implemented to estimate the association between predictors and depressive symptoms. Au pairs who worked >40 h per week were more than three times more likely to experience depression than those who did not (OR: 3.47; 95% CI: 1.46–8.28). In addition, those exposed to physical violence were almost five times more likely to suffer from depression (OR: 4.95; 95% CI: 2.16–9.75), and au pairs who had bad schedule adaptation to social and family commitments had twice the risk of depression than those who did not (OR: 2.24; 95% CI: 0.95–5.28). This knowledge could be of interest for future au pairs, host families, au pair agencies and policy makers. Together, they could improve awareness and monitoring of au pair working conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Bernarda Espinoza-Castro & Tobias Weinmann & Rossana Mendoza López & Katja Radon, 2021. "Working Conditions as Risk Factors for Depressive Symptoms among Spanish-Speaking Au Pairs Living in Germany—Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-13, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:13:p:6940-:d:584193
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chung-Wei Shen & Yi-Hau Chen, 2012. "Model Selection for Generalized Estimating Equations Accommodating Dropout Missingness," Biometrics, The International Biometric Society, vol. 68(4), pages 1046-1054, December.
    2. Baltar, Fabiola & Brunet Icart, Ignasi, 2012. "Social research 2.0: virtual snowball sampling method using Facebook," Nülan. Deposited Documents 1875, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales, Centro de Documentación.
    3. Carlos, Jessica Krystle & Wilson, Kathi, 2018. "Migration among temporary foreign workers: Examining health and access to health care among Filipina live-in caregivers," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 117-124.
    4. Bernarda Espinoza-Castro & Tobias Weinmann & Rossana Mendoza López & Katja Radon, 2019. "Major Depressive Syndrome (MDS) and its Association with Time of Residence among Spanish Speaking Au-Pairs Living in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-10, November.
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