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Measuring Job Characteristics and Mental Health Among Latino Farmworkers: Results from Cognitive Testing

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Abstract

Background Few research instruments used in occupational stress research have been evaluated for acceptability and validity among immigrant Latino farmworkers. Methods Cognitive testing was completed with 40 migrant and seasonal farmworkers (21 women, 19 men) through two focus groups and 16 one-on-one interviews conducted in Texas and Florida. Participants responded to the K-6, a short form instrument designed to measure psychological distress, selected items from the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) and standard health items. Results The K-6 items were characterized as too long and using a higher “class” language than farmworkers use. Further, the cultural connotation of several items in the K-6 was viewed as inappropriate by farmworkers. Demand items from the JCQ were interpreted inconsistently, whereas decision latitude items were consistently understood but viewed as irrelevant to farmworkers. Conclusions The results highlight the difficulties involved in conducting research with immigrant farmworkers, and they suggest that researchers interested in studying antecedents and consequences of farmworker mental health need to select instruments cautiously.

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Acknowledgments

Funding was provided by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The authors would like to express appreciation to Dr. Ronald Kessler, Dr. Jose Aguilar-Gaxiola, and Dr. Todd Strauss for providing the K-6 in Spanish. The authors are also grateful to Drs. Thomas A. Arcury and Sara Quandt for providing a translated version of the job content items adapted for farmwork.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157-1084, USA

    Joseph G. Grzywacz

  2. Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluation and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Toni Alterman

  3. Center for Addictions and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Cananda

    Carles Muntaner

  4. Aguirre Division, JBS International, Burlingame, CA, USA

    Susan Gabbard & Jorge Nakamoto

  5. Department of Labor, Education and Training Administration, Washington, DC, USA

    Daniel J. Carroll

Authors
  1. Joseph G. Grzywacz
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  2. Toni Alterman
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  3. Carles Muntaner
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  4. Susan Gabbard
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  5. Jorge Nakamoto
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  6. Daniel J. Carroll
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joseph G. Grzywacz.

Appendix A

Appendix A

English and Spanish versions of items subjected to cognitive testing

English

Spanish

Mental health (K6 items)

Q1a. The next questions are about how you have been feeling during the past 30 days. About how often during the past 30 days did you feel nervous—would you say all of the time, most of the time, some of the time, a little of the time, or none of the time?

Q1a. Las siguientes preguntas son acerca de cómo se ha sentido en los últimos 30 días. En los últimos 30 días, ¿con qué frecuencia, se sintió nervioso(a)—diría que todo el tiempo, la mayor parte del tiempo, algunas veces, casi nunca, o nunca?

Q1b. During the past 30 days, about how often did you feel hopeless—all of the time, most of the time, some of the time, a little of the time, or none of the time?

Q1b. En los últimos 30 días, ¿con qué frecuencia se sintió sin esperanza—Todo el tiempo, la mayor parte del tiempo, algunas veces, casi nunca, o nunca?

Q1c. During the past 30 days, about how often did you feel restless or fidgety? (IF NEC: all, most, some, a little, or none of the time?)

Q1c. En los últimos 30 días, ¿con qué frecuencia se sintió inquieto(a) o intranquilo(a)? (SI NEC: ¿Todo el tiempo, la mayor parte del tiempo, algunas veces, casi nunca, o nunca?)

Q1d. How often did you feel so depressed that nothing could cheer you up? (IF NEC: all, most, some, a little, or none of the time?)

Q1d. En los últimos 30 días, ¿con qué frecuencia se sintió tan deprimido(a) que nada podía levantarle el ánimo? (SI NEC: ¿Todo el tiempo, la mayor parte del tiempo, algunas veces, casi nunca, o nunca?)

Q1e. During the past 30 days, about how often did you feel that everything was an effort? (IF NEC: all, most, some, a little, or none of the time?)

Q1e. En los últimos 30 días, ¿con qué frecuencia sintió que todo le costaba mucho esfuerzo? (SI NEC: ¿Todo el tiempo, la mayor parte del tiempo, algunas veces, casi nunca, o nunca?)

Q1f. During the past 30 days, about how often did you feel worthless? (IF NEC: all, most, some, a little, or none of the time?)

Q1f. En los últimos 30 días, ¿con qué frecuencia se sintió inútil? (SI NEC: ¿Todo el tiempo, la mayor parte del tiempo, algunas veces, casi nunca, o nunca?)

Q2. The last set of questions asked about feelings that might have occurred during the past 30 days. Taking them altogether, did these feelings occur more often in the past 30 days than is usual for you, about the same as usual, or less often than usual?

Q2. Hemos revisado experiencias y sentimientos que le pudieron haber ocurrido en los últimos 30 días. Tomando todos en cuenta ¿estos sentimientos fueron más frecuentes en los últimos 30 días de lo que es usual para usted, fueron tan frecuentes como es usual, o menos frecuentes de lo usual?

Q2a. A lot less than usual, somewhat less, or only a little less than usual?

Q2a. ¿Esto es mucho, algo o un poquito menos frecuente de lo usual?

Q2b. A lot more than usual, somewhat more, or only a little more than usual?

Q2b. ¿Esto es, algo o un poquito menos frecuente de lo usual?

Q4. The next questions are about how these feelings may have affected you in the past 30 days. How many days out of the past 30 were you totally unable to work or carry out your normal activities because of these feelings?

Q4. Las siguientes preguntas son acerca de cómo estos sentimientos le han afectado en los últimos 30 días. ¿Cuántos de los últimos 30 días fue totalmente incapaz de trabajar o llevar a cabo sus actividades normales debido a estos sentimientos?

Q6. [Not counting (that day/those days)], how many days in the past 30 were you able to do only half or less of what you would normally have been able to do because of these feelings?

Q6. [Sin contar (ese día/esos días)], ¿cuántos días de los últimos 30 pudo hacer solamente la mitad o menos de lo que normalmente puede hacer debido a estos sentimientos?

Q7. During the past 30 days, how many times did you see a doctor or other health professional about these feelings?

Q7. En los últimos 30 días, ¿cuántas veces consultó a un médico u otro profesional de la salud debido a estos sentimientos?

Q8. During the past 30 days, how often have physical health problems been the main cause of these feelings—all of the time, most of the time, some of the time, a little of the time, or none of the time?

Q8. En los últimos 30 días, ¿con qué frecuencia los problemas de salud física fueron la causa principal de estos sentimientos-Todo el tiempo, la mayor parte del tiempo, algunas veces, casi nunca, o nunca?

Job demands

How often does your job in farmwork require you to work very hard? (Seldom or Never, Sometimes, Often, [Almost] Always)

¿Con qué frecuencia su trabajo del campo le requiere que trabaje muy duro? (Casi nunca o nunca, Algunas veces, Casi Siempre, Todo el tiempo)

How often are you asked to do an excessive amount of work?

¿Con qué frecuencia se le pide que trabaje en exceso?

Decision latitude

How often do you have a lot of say about what happens on your job? (Seldom or Never, Sometimes, Often, [Almost] Always)

¿Con qué frecuencia tiene usted la oportunidad de participar de tomar decisiones sobre lo que pasa en su trabajo? (Casi nunca o nunca, Algunas veces, Casi Siempre, Todo el tiempo)

How often does your job require a high level of skill?

¿Con qué frecuencia su trabajo del campo requiere un nivel alto de destreza?

How often do you have the freedom to decide how you do your farmwork?

¿Con qué frecuencia tiene usted la libertad de decidir cómo hacer su trabajo del campo?

How often does your job in require you to be creative?

¿Con qué frecuencia su trabajo del campo requiere que usted sea creativo?

Job insecurity

How often do you worry about losing your job? (Often, Sometimes, Rarely)

¿Con qué frecuencia se preocupa usted que podría perder su trabajo? (Siempre, Algunas Veces, Nunca)

How easy would it be for you to find another job of equivalent pay? (Very Easy, Somewhat Easy, Not at all Easy)

¿Qué tan fácil sería para usted encontrar otro trabajo donde le paguen igual? (Muy Fácil, Algo Fácil, Nada Fácil [Difícil])

Concern or worry about family in home country

How concerned or worried are you about family members back home? (Very Much, Somewhat, Not at all)

¿Cuánto se preocupa usted por su familia en su país? (Mucho, Algo [Más o Menos, Un Poco], Nada)

Work limitations due to physical health

Are you limited in any way in work because of physical problems? (Yes, No)

¿Tiene Usted alguna limitación para hacer su trabajo debido a un problema físico? (Sí, No)

Work limitations due to mental health

Are you limited in any way in work because of mental or emotional problems? (Yes, No)

¿Tiene Usted alguna limitación para hacer su trabajo debido a problemas mentales o emocionales? (Sí, No)

Work-related absence because of illness or injury

During the PAST 12 MONTHS, that is, ABOUT how many days did you miss work because of a work-related illness or injury? 

En los últimos 12 meses, ¿cuántos días NO trabajó debido a/por causa de alguna enfermedad o accidente relacionado con su trabajo?

General health status

In general, how would you describe your health? Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor

En general, ¿Cómo se siente de salud? Excelente, Bien, Regular, o Mal?

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Grzywacz, J.G., Alterman, T., Muntaner, C. et al. Measuring Job Characteristics and Mental Health Among Latino Farmworkers: Results from Cognitive Testing. J Immigrant Minority Health 11, 131–138 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-008-9170-2

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