Impacts of im/migration experience on work stress among sex workers in Vancouver, Canada

Julie Sou; Kate Shannon; Jean Shoveller; Putu Duff; Melissa Braschel; Sabina Dobrer; Shira M. Goldenberg

doi:10.17269/s41997-018-0161-3

Impacts of im/migration experience on work stress among sex workers in Vancouver, Canada

Julie Sou, Kate Shannon, Jean Shoveller, Putu Duff, Melissa Braschel, Sabina Dobrer, Shira M. Goldenberg

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives: Despite the precarious and unsafe working conditions frequently experienced by sex workers (SWs) and im/migrant workers, there remains a paucity of research on work-related stress and links to duration of im/migration residency among SWs. This study analyzes the relationship between duration of residency and two dimensions of work stress among SWs in Metro Vancouver. Methods: Data were drawn from a longitudinal cohort of women SWs across Metro Vancouver (2010–2014). Multivariable confounder models with generalized estimating equations were developed to examine the independent effects of duration of residency on decision authority and job demands, after adjusting for confounders. Results: Of 545 SWs, 9.7% were recent im/migrants, 13.9% were long-term im/migrants, and 76.2% were non-migrants. In comparison to non-migrant SWs, recent (β coefficient − 1.02, 95% CI − 1.57 to − 0.47) and long-term im/migrants (β coefficient − 0.87, 95% CI − 1.36 to −0.38) faced decreased work stress related to job demands after adjustment for key confounders. Decision authority did not retain a significant independent association after adjusting for the same factors. Conclusion: Job demands varied significantly by duration of residency. This may be explained by changing working conditions and experiences over the course of arrival and settlement among im/migrant SWs, as well as the role of formal work environments in supporting im/migrant SWs’ well-being. Given high rates of work stress related to job demands and low decision authority among all SWs, decriminalization of sex work, improved occupational standards, and culturally sensitive interventions to promote collectivization and improved access to working conditions remain needed.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	344-353
Number of pages	10
Journal	Canadian Journal of Public Health
Volume	110
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-018-0161-3
Publication status	Published - Jun 19 2019
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Funding information This research was supported by operating grants from the US National Institutes of Health (R01DA028648) and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (HHP-98835), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Public Health Agency of Canada (HEB-330155), and MacAIDS. KS holds a Canada Research Chair in Global Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS and a Scholar Award from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. SG is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research New Investigator Award and the National Institutes of Health (R01DA028648).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, The Canadian Public Health Association.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

PubMed: MeSH publication types

Journal Article
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.17269/s41997-018-0161-3

Cite this

@article{a24668e0728449a4a43602bb07877558,

title = "Impacts of im/migration experience on work stress among sex workers in Vancouver, Canada",

abstract = "Objectives: Despite the precarious and unsafe working conditions frequently experienced by sex workers (SWs) and im/migrant workers, there remains a paucity of research on work-related stress and links to duration of im/migration residency among SWs. This study analyzes the relationship between duration of residency and two dimensions of work stress among SWs in Metro Vancouver. Methods: Data were drawn from a longitudinal cohort of women SWs across Metro Vancouver (2010–2014). Multivariable confounder models with generalized estimating equations were developed to examine the independent effects of duration of residency on decision authority and job demands, after adjusting for confounders. Results: Of 545 SWs, 9.7% were recent im/migrants, 13.9% were long-term im/migrants, and 76.2% were non-migrants. In comparison to non-migrant SWs, recent (β coefficient − 1.02, 95% CI − 1.57 to − 0.47) and long-term im/migrants (β coefficient − 0.87, 95% CI − 1.36 to −0.38) faced decreased work stress related to job demands after adjustment for key confounders. Decision authority did not retain a significant independent association after adjusting for the same factors. Conclusion: Job demands varied significantly by duration of residency. This may be explained by changing working conditions and experiences over the course of arrival and settlement among im/migrant SWs, as well as the role of formal work environments in supporting im/migrant SWs{\textquoteright} well-being. Given high rates of work stress related to job demands and low decision authority among all SWs, decriminalization of sex work, improved occupational standards, and culturally sensitive interventions to promote collectivization and improved access to working conditions remain needed.",

author = "Julie Sou and Kate Shannon and Jean Shoveller and Putu Duff and Melissa Braschel and Sabina Dobrer and Goldenberg, {Shira M.}",

note = "Funding Information: Funding information This research was supported by operating grants from the US National Institutes of Health (R01DA028648) and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (HHP-98835), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Public Health Agency of Canada (HEB-330155), and MacAIDS. KS holds a Canada Research Chair in Global Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS and a Scholar Award from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. SG is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research New Investigator Award and the National Institutes of Health (R01DA028648). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018, The Canadian Public Health Association.",

year = "2019",

month = jun,

day = "19",

doi = "10.17269/s41997-018-0161-3",

language = "English",

volume = "110",

pages = "344--353",

journal = "Canadian Journal of Public Health",

issn = "0008-4263",

publisher = "Canadian Public Health Association",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Impacts of im/migration experience on work stress among sex workers in Vancouver, Canada

AU - Sou, Julie

AU - Shannon, Kate

AU - Shoveller, Jean

AU - Duff, Putu

AU - Braschel, Melissa

AU - Dobrer, Sabina

AU - Goldenberg, Shira M.

N1 - Funding Information: Funding information This research was supported by operating grants from the US National Institutes of Health (R01DA028648) and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (HHP-98835), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Public Health Agency of Canada (HEB-330155), and MacAIDS. KS holds a Canada Research Chair in Global Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS and a Scholar Award from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. SG is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research New Investigator Award and the National Institutes of Health (R01DA028648). Publisher Copyright: © 2018, The Canadian Public Health Association.

PY - 2019/6/19

Y1 - 2019/6/19

N2 - Objectives: Despite the precarious and unsafe working conditions frequently experienced by sex workers (SWs) and im/migrant workers, there remains a paucity of research on work-related stress and links to duration of im/migration residency among SWs. This study analyzes the relationship between duration of residency and two dimensions of work stress among SWs in Metro Vancouver. Methods: Data were drawn from a longitudinal cohort of women SWs across Metro Vancouver (2010–2014). Multivariable confounder models with generalized estimating equations were developed to examine the independent effects of duration of residency on decision authority and job demands, after adjusting for confounders. Results: Of 545 SWs, 9.7% were recent im/migrants, 13.9% were long-term im/migrants, and 76.2% were non-migrants. In comparison to non-migrant SWs, recent (β coefficient − 1.02, 95% CI − 1.57 to − 0.47) and long-term im/migrants (β coefficient − 0.87, 95% CI − 1.36 to −0.38) faced decreased work stress related to job demands after adjustment for key confounders. Decision authority did not retain a significant independent association after adjusting for the same factors. Conclusion: Job demands varied significantly by duration of residency. This may be explained by changing working conditions and experiences over the course of arrival and settlement among im/migrant SWs, as well as the role of formal work environments in supporting im/migrant SWs’ well-being. Given high rates of work stress related to job demands and low decision authority among all SWs, decriminalization of sex work, improved occupational standards, and culturally sensitive interventions to promote collectivization and improved access to working conditions remain needed.

AB - Objectives: Despite the precarious and unsafe working conditions frequently experienced by sex workers (SWs) and im/migrant workers, there remains a paucity of research on work-related stress and links to duration of im/migration residency among SWs. This study analyzes the relationship between duration of residency and two dimensions of work stress among SWs in Metro Vancouver. Methods: Data were drawn from a longitudinal cohort of women SWs across Metro Vancouver (2010–2014). Multivariable confounder models with generalized estimating equations were developed to examine the independent effects of duration of residency on decision authority and job demands, after adjusting for confounders. Results: Of 545 SWs, 9.7% were recent im/migrants, 13.9% were long-term im/migrants, and 76.2% were non-migrants. In comparison to non-migrant SWs, recent (β coefficient − 1.02, 95% CI − 1.57 to − 0.47) and long-term im/migrants (β coefficient − 0.87, 95% CI − 1.36 to −0.38) faced decreased work stress related to job demands after adjustment for key confounders. Decision authority did not retain a significant independent association after adjusting for the same factors. Conclusion: Job demands varied significantly by duration of residency. This may be explained by changing working conditions and experiences over the course of arrival and settlement among im/migrant SWs, as well as the role of formal work environments in supporting im/migrant SWs’ well-being. Given high rates of work stress related to job demands and low decision authority among all SWs, decriminalization of sex work, improved occupational standards, and culturally sensitive interventions to promote collectivization and improved access to working conditions remain needed.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85066823095&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85066823095&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.17269/s41997-018-0161-3

DO - 10.17269/s41997-018-0161-3

M3 - Article

C2 - 30565164

AN - SCOPUS:85066823095

SN - 0008-4263

VL - 110

SP - 344

EP - 353

JO - Canadian Journal of Public Health

JF - Canadian Journal of Public Health

IS - 3

ER -

Impacts of im/migration experience on work stress among sex workers in Vancouver, Canada

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

PubMed: MeSH publication types

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this