Working Conditions and Mental Health of Migrants and Refugees in Europe Considering Cultural Origin- a Systematic Review

Overview

Journal BMC Public Health

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Public Health

Date 2024 Mar 1

PMID 38429674

Authors

Regina Herold

Marietta Lieb

Andrea Borho

Amanda Voss

Susanne Unverzagt

Eva Morawa

Eva Rothermund

Yesim Erim

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Migrants and refugees/asylum seekers, as a large part of the European work force, are often confronted with unfavorable working conditions in the host country. Main aim of this systematic review was to compare the association of these working conditions with mental health between migrants and refugees/asylum seekers due to their diverse migration experiences and cultural origins, and between different European host countries.

Methods: Systematic search for eligible primary studies was conducted in three electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO and CINAHL) using quantitative study designs written in English, German, French, Italian, Polish, Spanish or Turkish and published from January 1, 2016 to October 27, 2022. Primary health outcomes were diagnosed psychiatric and psychological disorders, suicide and suicide attempts, psychiatric and psychological symptoms, and perceived distress. Secondary health outcomes were more general concepts of mental health such as well-being, life satisfaction and quality of life. Two reviewers independently completed screening, data extraction and the methodological quality assessment of primary studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa-Scale. Descriptive summary of primary studies on working conditions and their relationship with mental health were conducted, comparing migrants and refugees/asylum seekers, migrants and refugees/asylum seekers of different cultural backgrounds (collectivistic and individualistic) and migrants and refugees/asylum seekers living in different host countries.

Results: Inclusion criteria were met by 19 primary studies. Voluntary migrants are more likely to experience overqualification in the host country than refugees. In all examined host countries, migrants and refugees suffer from unfavorable working conditions, with migrants from collectivistic countries being slightly at risk compared to migrants from individualistic countries. Most unfavorable working conditions are related to poor mental health, regardless of migrant status, cultural origin or host country.

Conclusions: Although the results should be interpreted with caution due to the small number of studies, it is evident that to maintain both the mental health and labor force of migrants and refugees/asylum seekers, their working conditions in host countries should be controlled and improved. Special attention should be paid to specific subgroups such as migrants from collectivistic societies.

Ethics And Dissemination: This systematic review is excluded from ethical approval because it used previously approved published data from primary studies.

Trial Registration Number: CRD42021244840.

References

Gosselin A, Malroux I, Desprat D, Devetter F, Memmi S, Pannetier J . Prevalence of psychosocial risks among immigrants in France and associations with mental health: findings from the national French Working Conditions Survey. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2021; 95(5):1017-1026. DOI: 10.1007/s00420-021-01763-2. View

Braun K, Shaar M, Gumz A, Schwantes U, Pantenburg B, Necknig U . [The association of job satisfaction with self-reported burnout among urologists with migration background working at German hospitals : Results of the EUTAKD study]. Urologe A. 2021; 60(10):1313-1322. DOI: 10.1007/s00120-021-01600-x. View

Lindstrom M, Sundquist J, Ostergren P . Ethnic differences in self reported health in Malmö in southern Sweden. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2001; 55(2):97-103. PMC: 1731832. DOI: 10.1136/jech.55.2.97. View

Espinoza-Castro B, Weinmann T, Lopez R, Radon K . Working Conditions as Risk Factors for Depressive Symptoms among Spanish-Speaking Au Pairs Living in Germany-Longitudinal Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(13). PMC: 8296902. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18136940. View

Brendler-Lindqvist M, Tondel M, Helgesson M, Nordqvist T, Svartengren M . Overqualification at work and risk of hospitalization for psychiatric and somatic diseases among immigrants in Sweden - a prospective register-based study. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2022; 48(8):632-640. PMC: 10546611. DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.4055. View

Morawa E, Erim Y . [The interrelation between perceived discrimination, depressiveness, and health related quality of life in immigrants of Turkish and Polish origin]. Psychiatr Prax. 2013; 41(4):200-7. DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1343221. View

Mesa-Vieira C, Haas A, Buitrago-Garcia D, Roa-Diaz Z, Minder B, Gamba M . Mental health of migrants with pre-migration exposure to armed conflict: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Public Health. 2022; 7(5):e469-e481. DOI: 10.1016/S2468-2667(22)00061-5. View

Helgesson M, Wang M, Niederkrotenthaler T, Saboonchi F, Mittendorfer-Rutz E . Labour market marginalisation among refugees from different countries of birth: a prospective cohort study on refugees to Sweden. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2019; 73(5):407-415. DOI: 10.1136/jech-2018-211177. View

Enticott J, Shawyer F, Vasi S, Buck K, Cheng I, Russell G . A systematic review of studies with a representative sample of refugees and asylum seekers living in the community for participation in mental health research. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2017; 17(1):37. PMC: 5335792. DOI: 10.1186/s12874-017-0312-x. View

10.

Sterud T, Tynes T, Mehlum I, Veiersted K, Bergbom B, Airila A . A systematic review of working conditions and occupational health among immigrants in Europe and Canada. BMC Public Health. 2018; 18(1):770. PMC: 6011510. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-018-5703-3. View

11.

May M, Shaar M, Gumz A, Shaar A, Necknig U, Braun K . [Relationship between non-medical reading and burnout as well as professional satisfaction among urologists with migrant background: results of the EUTAKD survey study conducted at German hospitals]. Aktuelle Urol. 2021; 55(5):439-447. DOI: 10.1055/a-1398-2197. View

12.

Sifaki-Pistolla D, Chatzea V, Vlachaki S, Melidoniotis E, Pistolla G . Who is going to rescue the rescuers? Post-traumatic stress disorder among rescue workers operating in Greece during the European refugee crisis. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2016; 52(1):45-54. DOI: 10.1007/s00127-016-1302-8. View

13.

Rhead R, Chui Z, Bakolis I, Gazard B, Harwood H, MacCrimmon S . Impact of workplace discrimination and harassment among National Health Service staff working in London trusts: results from the TIDES study. BJPsych Open. 2020; 7(1):e10. PMC: 7791556. DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2020.137. View

14.

Yanar B, Kosny A, Smith P . Occupational Health and Safety Vulnerability of Recent Immigrants and Refugees. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018; 15(9). PMC: 6165099. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15092004. View

15.

Heeren M, Wittmann L, Ehlert U, Schnyder U, Maier T, Muller J . Psychopathology and resident status - comparing asylum seekers, refugees, illegal migrants, labor migrants, and residents. Compr Psychiatry. 2014; 55(4):818-25. DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.02.003. View

16.

Capasso R, Zurlo M, Smith A . Ethnicity, work-related stress and subjective reports of health by migrant workers: a multi-dimensional model. Ethn Health. 2016; 23(2):174-193. DOI: 10.1080/13557858.2016.1258041. View

17.

Ronda-Perez E, Martinez J, Reid A, Agudelo-Suarez A . Longer Residence of Ecuadorian and Colombian Migrant Workers in Spain Associated with New Episodes of Common Mental Disorders. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019; 16(11). PMC: 6604003. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16112027. View

18.

Espinoza-Castro B, Vasquez Rueda L, Mendoza Lopez R, Radon K . Working Below Skill Level as Risk Factor for Distress Among Latin American Migrants Living in Germany: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Immigr Minor Health. 2018; 21(5):1012-1018. DOI: 10.1007/s10903-018-0821-7. View

19.

Arici C, Ronda-Perez E, Tamhid T, Absekava K, Porru S . Occupational Health and Safety of Immigrant Workers in Italy and Spain: A Scoping Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019; 16(22). PMC: 6888464. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16224416. View

20.

Herold R, Lieb M, Borho A, Voss A, Unverzagt S, Morawa E . Relationship between working conditions and mental health of migrants and refugees/asylum seekers vs. natives in Europe: a systematic review. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2023; 96(7):931-963. PMC: 10361874. DOI: 10.1007/s00420-023-01981-w. View