Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Dairy is Different: Latino Dairy Worker Stress in Vermont

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

A Correction to this article was published on 05 September 2022

This article has been updated

Abstract

Latino immigrant dairy workers face significant challenges. Dairy’s employment of immigrants is recent compared to other sectors, though today immigrants account for over half of US dairy workers. This study applies the Migrant Farmworker Stress Inventory to dairy for the first time. Interviews of 173 workers were conducted using the MFWSI, augmented with dairy specific indictors. Bivariate analysis identified associations between dairy worker characteristics and stress. Findings were compared to other studies using the MFWSI. Average stress was 74.6/156 points, with 36.5% at risk for clinically significant stress. Vermont ranked eighth among 11 MFWSI studies, and fourth of seven studies for significant stress. Primary stressors differed from studies of fruit and crop workers. Over a third of Vermont immigrant dairy workers risk debilitating stress. The MFWSI underestimates dairy farmworker stress and should be modified for this sector. Identified stressors indicate Spanish-language, dairy safety training may be beneficial.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Change history

References

  1. Adcock F, Anderson D, Rosson P. The economic impacts of immigrant labor on U.S. Dairy farms. Arlington, VA: National Milk Producers Federation; 2015. https://www.nmpf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/immigration-survey-090915.pdf. Accessed 26 May 2020.

  2. Baker D. Latino dairy workers in Vermont. Communities and banking. Spring ed: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston; 2013:5–7. https://www.bostonfed.org/publications/communities-and-banking/2013/spring/latino-dairy-workers-in-vermont.aspx. Accessed 26 May 2020

  3. Shea E. Vermont farmworker demographics. Paper presented at: Vermont Dairy Labor Forum; 12 Sep 2018; Burlington, VT.

  4. Grzywacz JG, Quandt SA, Early J, Tapia J, Graham CN, Arcury TA. Leaving family for work: ambivalence and mental health among Mexican migrant farmworker men. J Immigr Minor Health. 2006;8(1):85–97.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Vega W, Warheit G, Palacio R. Psychiatric symptomatology among Mexican American farmworkers. Soc Sci Med. 1985;20(1):39–45.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Winkelman SB, Chaney EH, Bethel JW. Stress, depression and coping among Latino migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2013;10(5):1815–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Hanson E, Donohoe M. Health issues of migrant and seasonal farmworkers. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2003;14(2):153–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Carvajal S, Kibor C, McClelland D, et al. Stress and sociocultural factors related to health status among US-Mexico border farmworkers. J Immigr Minor Health. 2014;16(6):1176–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Hovey JD, Hurtado G, Seligman LD. Findings for a CBT Support Group for Latina Migrant Farmworkers in Western Colorado. Curr Psychol. 2014;33(3):271–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Crain R, Grzywacz JG, Schwantes M, Isom S, Quandt SA, Arcury TA. Correlates of mental health among Latino farmworkers in North Carolina. J Rural Health. 2012;28(3):277–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Hurtado-de-Mendoza A, Gonzales F, Serrano A, Kaltman S. Social isolation and perceived barriers to establishing social networks among Latina immigrants. Am J Community Psychol. 2014;53(1–2):73–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Pulgar CA, Trejo G, Suerken C, Ip EH, Arcury TA, Quandt SA. Economic hardship and depression among women in Latino farmworker families. J Immigr Minor Health. 2015;18(3):497–504.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Hovey JD, Seligman LD. The mental health of agricultural workers. In: Lessenger JE, editor. Agricultural medicine: a practical guide. New York, NY: Springer; 2006. p. 282–99.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  14. Dickens S, Dotter E, Handy M, Waterman L. Reducing stress to minimize injury: the nation’s first Employee Assistance Program for dairy farmers. J Agromedicine. 2014;19(2):103–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Day A, Brasher K, Bridger R. Accident proneness revisited: the role of psychological stress and cognitive failure. Accid Anal Prev. 2012;49:532–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. US Department of Agriculture. Farm labor. Washington, DC: US department of agriculture; 2020. Available at: https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/farm-economy/farm-labor. Accessed 26 May 2020

  17. Becerra D. They say we are criminals: the stress, fears, and hopes of migrant dairy workers as a result of US immigration policies. J Poverty. 2019;24:389–407.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Reid A, Schenker MB. Hired farmworkers in the US: demographics, work organisation, and services. Am J Ind Med. 2016;59(8):644–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Keller JC, Gray M, Harrison JL. Milking workers, breaking bodies: health inequality in the dairy industry. New Labor Forum. 2016;26(1):36–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Ward L, Tanner A. Psychosocial stress and health-related quality of life for Latino migrant farmworkers. South Online J Nurs Res. 2010;10(1):1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Mares T. Life on the other border: farmworkers and food justice in Vermont. Oakland, CA: University of California Press; 2019.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  22. Grout L, Baker MG, French N, Hales S. A review of potential public health impacts associated with the global dairy sector. Geohealth. 2020;4(2):e2019GH000213.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Wolcott-MacCausland N, Shea E. Ag labor management with a latino workforce: migration, cultural considerations, labor management and community resources. St. Albans, VT: University of Vermont Extension; 2011. https://www.uvm.edu/sites/default/files/aglabor_management_latinoworkforce_workbook.pdf. Accessed 7 Aug 2020

  24. Baker D, Chappelle D. Health status and needs of Latino dairy farmworkers in Vermont. J Agromedicine. 2012;17(3):277–87.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Migrant Justice. Farmworkers document abuse & propose solution: milk with dignity. Burlington, VT: Migrant Justice; 2015. https://migrantjustice.net/sites/default/files/FinalSurveyMay2015.pdf. Accessed 26 May 2020

  26. Meyer I. Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychol Bull. 2003;129(5):674–97.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Hill CM, Williams EC, Ornelas IJ. Help wanted: mental health and social stressors among Latino day laborers. Am J Mens Health. 2019;13(2):1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Organista KC, Jung W, Neilands TB. Working and living conditions and psychological distress in Latino migrant day laborers. Health Educ Behav. 2019;46(4):637–47.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Hovey JD. Migrant Farmworker Stress Inventory (MFWSI). 4 ed; 2000. http://www.psimh.com/research-clinical-instruments. Accessed 21 May 2015

  30. Hovey JD. Correlates of migrant farmworker stress among migrant farmworkers in Michigan. Migrant Health Newsline. 2001;18(4):5–6.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Caplan S. Latinos, acculturation, and acculturative stress: a dimensional concept analysis. Policy Polit Nurs Pract. 2007;8(2):93–106.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Kim-Godwin YS, Maume MO, Fox JA. Depression, stress, and intimate partner violence among Latino migrant and seasonal farmworkers in rural southeastern North Carolina. J Immigr Minor Health. 2014;16(6):1217–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Negi NJ. Battling discrimination and social isolation: psychological distress among Latino day laborers. Am J Community Psychol. 2013;51(1–2):164–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Rhodes SD, Mann L, Simán FM, Eunyoung S, Alonzo J, Downs M, Lawlor E, et al. The impact of local immigration enforcement policies on the health of immigrant Hispanics/Latinos in the United States. Am J Public Health. 2015;105(2):329–37.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Hiott AE, Grzywacz JG, Davis SW, Quandt SA, Arcury TA. Migrant farmworker stress: mental health implications. J Rural Health. 2008;24:32–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Hovey JD, Magana CG. Exploring the mental health of Mexican migrant farm workers in the Midwest: psychosocial predictors of psychological distress and suggestions for prevention and treatment. J Psychol. 2002;136:493–513.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Clingerman EM, Brown A. Stress in migrant farmworkers during premigration. Biol Res Nurs. 2012;14(1):27–37.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Fox JA, Kim-Godwin YS. Stress and depression among Latina women in rural southeastern North Carolina. J Community Health Nurs. 2011;28(4):223–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Kim-Godwin YS, Bechtel GA. Stress among migrant and seasonal farmworkers in rural southeast North Carolina. J Rural Health. 2004;20(3):271–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Evancie A. Migrant workers, activists protest on-farm living conditions. Vermont Public Radio. 16 May 2014

  41. True M. Discrimination case highlights police bias towards immigrants, advocates say. VT Digger. 18 Dec 2015. http://vtdigger.org/2015/12/18/discrimination-case-highlights-police-bias-toward-immigrants-advocates-say/. Accessed 26 May 2020

  42. Boyle D, Gerberich SG, Gibson RW, et al. Injury from dairy cattle activities. Epidemiology. 1997;8(1):37–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Ramos AK, Carlo G, Grant K, Trinidad N, Correa A. Stress, depression, and occupational injury among migrant farmworkers in Nebraska. Safety. 2016;2(4):23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Bacio G, Moore A, Karno M, Ray L. Determinants of problem drinking and depression among Latino day laborers. Subst Use Misuse. 2014;49(8):1039–48.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  45. Duke MR, Bourdeau B, Hovey JD. Day laborers and occupational stress: testing the migrant stress inventory with a Latino day laborer population. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2010;16(2):116.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Duke MR, Cunradi CB. Measuring intimate partner violence among male and female farmworkers in San Diego County. CA Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2011;17(1):59–67.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Luksyte A, Spitzmueller C, Rivera-Minaya CY. Factors relating to wellbeing of foreign-born hispanic workers. J Manag Psychol. 2014;29(6):685–704.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Nguyen HT, Quandt SA, Grzywacz JG, Chen H, Galvan L, Kitner-Triolo MH, Arcury TA. Stress and cognitive function in Latino farmworkers. Am J Ind Med. 2012;55(8):707–13.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  49. Ramos AK, Su D, Lander L, Rivera R. Stress factors contributing to depression among Latino migrant farmworkers in Nebraska. J Immigr Minor Health. 2015;17(6):1627–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. TePoel M, Rohlman D, Shaw M. The impact of work demand and gender on occupational and psychosocial stress in Hispanic farmworkers. J Agric Saf Health. 2017;23(2):109–23.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  51. Tran AN, Ornelas IJ, Kim M, Perez G, Green M, Lyn MJ, Corbie-Smith G. Results from a pilot promotora program to reduce depression and stress among immigrant Latinas. Health Promot Pract. 2014;15(3):365–72.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Harper CR, Brookmeyer KA. Using the social-ecological model to improve access to care for adolescents and young adults. J Adolesc Health. 2018;62:641–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Colding J, Barthel S. Exploring the social-ecological systems discourse 20 years later. Ecol Soc. 2019;24(1):2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. World Health Organization. The ecological framework. Violence prevention alliance; 2020. https://www.who.int/violenceprevention/approach/ecology/en/. Accessed 6 Oct 2020

  55. Wold B, Mittelmark MB. Health-promotion research over three decades: the social-ecological model and challenges in implementation of interventions. Scand J Public Health. 2018;46(20):20–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Vermont Criminal Justice Training Council. Model fair and impartial policing policy. http://vcjtc.vermont.gov/content/model-fair-and-impartial-policing-policy. Accessed 26 May 2020

  57. Douphrate DI, Nonnenmann MW, Hagevoort R, de Porras GDR. Work-related musculoskeletal symptoms and job factors among large-herd dairy milkers. J Agromedicine. 2016;21(3):224–33.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  58. Kolstrup CL. Work-related musculoskeletal discomfort of dairy farmers and employed workers. J Occup Med Toxicol. 2012;7:23.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  59. McDaniel CJ, Cardwell DM, Moeller RB, Gray GC. Humans and cattle: a review of bovine zoonoses. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2014;14(1):1–19.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  60. Sanguesa PB. Prevent zoonotic diseases on your dairy farm. East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University Extension; 2017. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/prevent_zoonotic_diseases_on_your_dairy_farm. Accessed 26 Oct 2020

  61. Juárez-Carrillo PM, Liebman AK, Reyes IA, Ninco Sánchez YV, Keifer MC. Applying learning theory to safety and health training for Hispanic immigrant dairy workers. Health Promot Pract. 2017;18(4):505–15.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. Health and safety. https://agriculture.vermont.gov/dbic/health. Accessed 17 Jan 2021

  63. Ulrich AJ, Molina YE, Briant KE, Onstad LE, Copeland WE, Holte SE, Thompson BE. Stress among Latinos: does it vary by occupation and agricultural season? J Occup Environ Med. 2018;60(9):810–4.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  64. Grzywacz JG, Quandt SA, Chen HY, Isom S, Kiang L, Vallejos Q, Arcury TA. Depressive symptoms among Latino farmworkers across the agricultural season: structural and situational influences. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2010;16:335–43.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  65. Castañeda H, Kline N, Dickey N. Health concerns of migrant backstretch workers at horse racetracks. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2010;21(2):489–503.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Bailey DN, Dougherty A. A nurse-led wellness program for migrant backstretch workers. Nurs Forum. 2014;49(1):30–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Swanberg JE, Clouser JM, Westneat SC, March MW, Reed DB. Occupational injuries on thoroughbred horse farms: a description of Latino and non-Latino workers experiences. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2013;10(12):6500–16.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  68. Rodriguez A, Hagevoort GR, Leal D, Pompeii L, Douphrate DI. Using mobile technology to increase safety awareness among dairy workers in the United States. J Agromedicine. 2018;23(4):315–26.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Arcury TA, Sandberg JC, Talton JW, Laurienti PJ, Daniel SS, Quandt SA. Mental health among Latina farmworkers and other employed Latinas in North Carolina. J. Rural Ment. Health. 2018;42(2):89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Development and Applied Economics, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA

    Daniel Baker, Jini Kades & Jane Kolodinsky

  2. Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA

    Emily H. Belarmino

Authors
  1. Daniel Baker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jini Kades
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jane Kolodinsky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Emily H. Belarmino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel Baker.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

The original online version of this article was revised: the keyword ‘Migrant farmworker’ has been included in the article.

Appendix

Appendix

See Tables 4 and 5.

Table 4 Rankings of top ten stressors in vermont dairy worker study compared across selected studies
Full size table
Table 5 Research utilizing the migrant farmworker stress inventory (mfwsi) and results for mean score and percent caseness for Stress
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Baker, D., Kades, J., Kolodinsky, J. et al. Dairy is Different: Latino Dairy Worker Stress in Vermont. J Immigrant Minority Health 23, 965–975 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-021-01232-5

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-021-01232-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation