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Migrant Live-in Caregivers Mental Health in Canada

Community Mental Health Journal volume 54, pages 590–599 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Empirical evidence suggests rapid health decline among temporary migrant workers but there is limited knowledge about their mental health. This study explored live-in care givers’ (LCs) mental health and its determinants. Using a mixed methods design, a purposeful sample of 30 LCs was recruited. Data were collected through a selfcompleted questionnaire. A third of participants reported their mental health as poor or fair. Almost half experienced major depression. The poor mental health was associated with the average working hours and living accommodation. The average resiliency scores was moderately high and appeared to function as a protective factor against mental illness. Our findings suggest LCs are at risk of compromised mental health associated to their substandard working and living conditions. These conditions originates from violation of employment contracts, unfair employment practices, and the lack of enforcement of LCs’ legal and human rights.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Partnership for Change: The RBC Immigrant, Diversity and Inclusion Project Research Grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Community Services, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada

    Mandana Vahabi & Josephine Pui-Hing Wong

  2. Graduate Program in Immigration and Settlement Studies, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Mandana Vahabi

  3. Ryerson Centre for Global Health and Health Equity, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Mandana Vahabi

  4. Centre for Research on Inner City Health, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Aisha Lofters

  5. Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Aisha Lofters

  6. Department of Family and Community Medicine, St. Michael Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Aisha Lofters

  7. Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Aisha Lofters

Authors
  1. Mandana Vahabi
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  2. Josephine Pui-Hing Wong
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  3. Aisha Lofters
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Correspondence to Mandana Vahabi.

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Vahabi, M., Wong, J.PH. & Lofters, A. Migrant Live-in Caregivers Mental Health in Canada. Community Ment Health J 54, 590–599 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-017-0225-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-017-0225-5

Keywords

  • Live-in caregivers
  • Working and living conditions
  • Mental health
  • Social exclusion
  • Resiliency