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Cited by 102Migration, Health and TraumaMigration, Identity, and HealthGender, Health, and Social Inequality

The effect of perceived discrimination on the health of immigrant workers in Spain

Open access
Agudelo-Suárez, Andrés A, Ronda-Pérez, Elena, Gil-González, Diana, Vives-Cases, Carmen, García, Ana M, Ruiz-Frutos, Carlos, Felt, Emily, Benavides, Fernando G·2011·BMC Public Health
DOI 10.1186/1471-2458-11-652PMC PMC3201027
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Discrimination is an important determinant of health inequalities, and immigrants may be more vulnerable to certain types of discrimination than the native-born. This study analyses the relationship between immigrants' perceived discrimination and various self-reported health indicators. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted (2008) amongst a non-random sample of 2434 immigrants from Ecuador, Morocco, Romania and Colombia in four Spanish cities: Barcelona, Huelva, Madrid and Valencia. A factorial analysis of variables revealed three dimensions of perceived discrimination (due to immigrant status, due to physical appearance, and workplace-related). The association of these dimensions with self-rated health, mental health (GHQ-12), change in self-rated health between origin and host country, and other self-reported health outcomes was analysed. Logistic regression was used adjusting for potential confounders (aOR-95%CI). Subjects with worsening self-reported health status potentially attributable to perceived discrimination was estimated (population attributable proportion, PAP %). RESULTS: 73.3% of men and 69.3% of women immigrants reported discrimination due to immigrant status. Moroccans showed the highest prevalence of perceived discrimination. Immigrants reporting discrimination were at significantly higher risk of reporting health problems than those not reporting discrimination. Workplace-related discrimination was associated with poor mental health (aOR 2.97 95%CI 2.45-3.60), and the worsening of self-rated health (aOR 2.20 95%CI 1.73- 2.80). 40% (95% CI 24-53) PAP of those reporting worse self-rated health could be attributable to discrimination due to immigrant status. CONCLUSIONS: Discrimination may constitute a risk factor for health in immigrant workers in Spain and could explain some health inequalities among immigrant populations in Spanish society.

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  • Agudelo-Suárez et al. (2011) found in Spain that immigrants from Morocco reported markedly higher levels of perceived discrimination than immigrants from Ecuador, Romania, and Colombia.

    “Similarly, in a large-scale study conducted in Spain (Agudelo-Suárez et al. 2011), immigrants from Morocco reported markedly higher levels of perceived discrimination than immigrants from Ecuador, Romania, and Colombia.”

    From Prejudice and Discrimination Toward Immigrants (2021) · cites this paper as Agudelo-Suárez et al. 2011

  • Immigrants' perceptions of discrimination, particularly workplace-related discrimination, significantly predicted reported health problems, including both mental (e.g., anxiety, stress) and physical symptoms (e.g., headache, muscular problems) among immigrants in Spain.

    “Their results indicate that immigrants' perceptions of discrimination, particularly workplace-related discrimination, significantly predicted reported health problems, including both mental (e.g., anxiety, stress) and physical symptoms (e.g., headache, muscular problems).”

    From Prejudice and Discrimination Toward Immigrants (2021) · cites this paper as Agudelo-Suárez et al. 2011

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Authors
Agudelo-Suárez, A. A., Ronda-Pérez, E., Gil-González, D., Vives-Cases, C., García, A. M., Ruiz-Frutos, C., Felt, E., & Benavides, F. G.
Affiliations
  • Universitat de València (ES)
  • Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (ES)
ORCID
Venue
BMC Public Health
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2011-08-17
Volume
11
Issue
1
Pages
652-652
ISSN
1471-2458 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/1471-2458-11-652
PMC
PMC3201027
OpenAlex
W2169732674
Cited by
102
References
4
Citations by year
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FWCI
5.79
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • BMC Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RECERCAT (Consorci de Serveis Universitaris de Catalunya) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Repositori digital de la UPF (Universitat Pompeu Fabra) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • Repository of Digital Objects for Teaching Research and Culture (University of Valencia) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Greater South Information System
Funders
  • Universidad de Huelva
  • Fundación Carolina
  • Division of Environmental Biology
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Migration, Identity, and Health
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Gender, Health, and Social Inequality
Keywords
perceived discrimination, immigrant workers, immigrant health, health disparities, employment discrimination, mental health, self-rated health, physical appearance discrimination, Moroccan immigrants, Ecuadorian migrants, Romanian immigrants, Colombian immigrants, Spain
MeSH terms
Adult, Colombia, Cross-Sectional Studies, Ecuador, Employment, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Morocco, Prejudice, Romania, Social Perception, Spain, Emigrants and Immigrants, Health Status Disparities, Young Adult, Diagnostic Self Evaluation

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