IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i13p7883-d848956.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Informal Employment and Poor Mental Health in a Sample of 180,260 Workers from 13 Iberoamerican Countries

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Silva-Peñaherrera

    (Observatorio Iberoamericano de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo, Organización Iberoamericana de Seguridad Social (OISS), C. de Velázquez, 105, 28006 Madrid, Spain
    Center for Research in Occupational Health, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
    CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Paula Santiá

    (Observatorio Iberoamericano de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo, Organización Iberoamericana de Seguridad Social (OISS), C. de Velázquez, 105, 28006 Madrid, Spain
    Center for Research in Occupational Health, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
    Preventive Medicine and Public Health Training Unit PSMar-UPF-ASPB (Parc de Salut Mar—Pompeu Fabra University—Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona), Passeig Maritim 25, 08003 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Fernando G. Benavides

    (Observatorio Iberoamericano de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo, Organización Iberoamericana de Seguridad Social (OISS), C. de Velázquez, 105, 28006 Madrid, Spain
    Center for Research in Occupational Health, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
    CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

The aim of this study is to estimate the association between employment conditions and mental health status in the working population of Iberoamerica. In this cross-sectional study, we pooled individual-level data from nationally representative surveys across 13 countries. A sample of 180,260 workers was analyzed. Informality was assessed by social security, health affiliation, or contract holding. Mental health was assessed using several instruments. We used Poisson regression models to estimate the contribution of informality to poor mental health by sex and country, adjusted by sociodemographic and work-related characteristics. Then, we performed a meta-analysis pooling of aggregate data using a random-effects inverse-variance model. Workers in informal employments showed a higher adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) of poor mental health than those in formal employment in Peru (aPR men 1.5 [95% confidence intervals 1.16; 1.93]), Spain (aPR men 2.2 [1.01; 4.78]) and Mexico (aPR men 1.24 [1.04; 1.47]; women 1.39 [1.18; 1.64]). Overall estimates showed that workers in informal employment have a higher prevalence of poor mental health than formal workers, with it being 1.19 times higher (aPR 1.19 [1.02; 1.39]) among men, and 1.11 times higher prevalence among women (aPR 1.11 [1.00; 1.23]). Addressing informal employment could contribute to improving workers’ mental health.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Silva-Peñaherrera & Paula Santiá & Fernando G. Benavides, 2022. "Informal Employment and Poor Mental Health in a Sample of 180,260 Workers from 13 Iberoamerican Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-12, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:13:p:7883-:d:848956
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/13/7883/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/13/7883/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bardasi, Elena & Francesconi, Marco, 2004. "The impact of atypical employment on individual wellbeing: evidence from a panel of British workers," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 58(9), pages 1671-1688, May.
    2. Bjarnason, Thoroddur & Sigurdardottir, Thordis J., 2003. "Psychological distress during unemployment and beyond: social support and material deprivation among youth in six northern European countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 56(5), pages 973-985, March.
    3. Yang Cai & Weiwei Kong & Yongsheng Lian & Xiangxin Jin, 2021. "Depressive Symptoms among Chinese Informal Employees in the Digital Era," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-13, May.
    4. Gökçer Özgür & Ceyhun Elgin & Adem Y. Elveren, 2021. "Is informality a barrier to sustainable development?," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(1), pages 45-65, January.
    5. Liukkonen, Virpi & Virtanen, Pekka & Kivimäki, Mika & Pentti, Jaana & Vahtera, Jussi, 2004. "Social capital in working life and the health of employees," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 59(12), pages 2447-2458, December.
    6. Ylipaavalniemi, Jaana & Kivimäki, Mika & Elovainio, Marko & Virtanen, Marianna & Keltikangas-Järvinen, Liisa & Vahtera, Jussi, 2005. "Psychosocial work characteristics and incidence of newly diagnosed depression: a prospective cohort study of three different models," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(1), pages 111-122, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Fiori, Francesca & Rinesi, Francesca & Spizzichino, Daniele & Di Giorgio, Ginevra, 2016. "Employment insecurity and mental health during the economic recession: An analysis of the young adult labour force in Italy," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 90-98.
    2. Kim, Il-Ho & Muntaner, Carles & Vahid Shahidi, Faraz & Vives, Alejandra & Vanroelen, Christophe & Benach, Joan, 2012. "Welfare states, flexible employment, and health: A critical review," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 104(2), pages 99-127.
    3. Paul Schumann & Lars Kuchinke, 2020. "Do(n’t) Worry, It’s Temporary: The Effects of Fixed-Term Employment on Affective Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(7), pages 2557-2582, October.
    4. Gunther Tichy, 2014. "Flexicurity – ein an seiner Umsetzung scheiterndes Konzept," WIFO Monatsberichte (monthly reports), WIFO, vol. 87(8), pages 537-553, August.
    5. Deborah De Moortel & Nico Dragano & Morten Wahrendorf, 2020. "Involuntary Full- and Part-Time Work: Employees’ Mental Health and the Role of Family- and Work-Related Resources," Societies, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-14, October.
    6. Chovan Brigitta & Poór József & Juhász Tímea, 2017. "The System of Means for Overcoming the Crisis – Based on an Empirical Examination at Companies in Budapest and Békés County, Hungary," Journal of Intercultural Management, Sciendo, vol. 9(1), pages 5-30, January.
    7. Eve Caroli & Mathilde Godard, 2016. "Does job insecurity deteriorate health?," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 25(2), pages 131-147, February.
    8. Pick-Soon Ling & Ming K. Lim & Ming-Lang Tseng, 2020. "Assessing Sustainable Foreign Direct Investment Performance in Malaysia: A Comparison on Policy Makers and Investor Perceptions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-38, October.
    9. Laura M. Wade-Bohleber & Carmen Duss & Aureliano Crameri & Agnes von Wyl, 2020. "Associations of Social and Psychological Resources with Different Facets of Chronic Stress: A Study with Employed and Unemployed Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-17, July.
    10. Elena Cottini & Claudio Lucifora, 2013. "GINI DP 86: Inequalities at work Job quality, Health and Low pay in European Workplaces," GINI Discussion Papers 86, AIAS, Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Labour Studies.
    11. repec:dau:papers:123456789/13646 is not listed on IDEAS
    12. John Rodwell & Rebecca L. Flower, 2023. "How Layers of Context and Material Deprivation Impact Reemployment in Stable or Casual Work," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-17, November.
    13. Francesco Bartolucci & Aleksandra Baschina & Giovanni S. F. Bruno & Olga Demidova & Marcello Signorelli, 2015. "Determinants of Job Satisfaction in Young Russian Workers," Discussion Papers 7_2015, CRISEI, University of Naples "Parthenope", Italy.
    14. Eve Caroli & Mathilde Godard, 2013. "Does Job Insecurity Deteriorate Health ? A Causal Approach for Europe," Working Papers 2013-13, Center for Research in Economics and Statistics.
    15. Guangyan Chen & Feng Qiu & Xiaowen Dai & Hongxing Lan & Jiahao Song, 2022. "Research on the Influence of Informal Employment on Residents’ Happiness in China: Empirical Analysis Based on CLDS Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-14, July.
    16. Ehlert, Christoph & Schaffner, Sandra, 2011. "Health Effects of Temporary Jobs in Europe," Ruhr Economic Papers 295, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    17. Viccaro, Mauro & Romano, Severino & Prete, Carmelina & Cozzi, Mario, 2021. "Rural planning? An integrated dynamic model for assessing quality of life at a local scale," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    18. Devillanova, Carlo & Raitano, Michele & Struffolino, Emanuela, 2019. "Longitudinal employment trajectories and health in middle life: Insights from linked administrative and survey data," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, pages 1375-1412.
    19. Salvatori, Andrea, 2010. "Labour contract regulations and workers' wellbeing: International longitudinal evidence," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 17(4), pages 667-678, August.
    20. Belloni, Michele & Carrino, Ludovico & Meschi, Elena, 2022. "The impact of working conditions on mental health: Novel evidence from the UK," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    21. Mohamed A. Eltarkawe & Shelly L. Miller, 2018. "The Impact of Industrial Odors on the Subjective Well-Being of Communities in Colorado," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-24, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:13:p:7883-:d:848956. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.