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Identifying Psychosocial Stressors of Well-Being and Factors Related to Substance Use Among Latino Day Laborers

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Abstract

Day labor is largely comprised of young Latino immigrant men, many of who are undocumented, and thus vulnerable to a myriad of workers’ rights abuses. The difficult work and life conditions of this marginalized population may place them at heightened risk for mental health problems and substance use and abuse. However, factors related to Latino day laborers’ well-being and substance misuse are largely unknown. This article utilizes ethnographic and focus group methodology to elucidate participant identified factors associated to well-being and substance use and abuse. This study has implications for informing public health and social service programming as it provides thick description regarding the context and circumstances associated to increased vulnerability to substance abuse and lack of well-being among this hard-to-reach population of Latino immigrants.

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Conflict of interest

There are no possible conflicts of interest involving products or consultancies that are related to this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, University of Maryland, Baltimore, 525 West Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA

    Nalini Junko Negi

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  1. Nalini Junko Negi
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Correspondence to Nalini Junko Negi.

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Nalini Junko Negi Identifying Psychosocial Stressors of Well-Being and Factors Related to Substance Use Among Latino Day Laborers. J Immigrant Minority Health 13, 748–755 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-010-9413-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-010-9413-x

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