A preliminary study of the mental health of young migrant workers in Shenzhen

Abstract

The aim ofthis study is to examine the mental health status ofyoung migrant workers in Shenzhen.Using the Syniptonis Check List-90 (SCL-90), Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, Social Support Scale and Mental Health Questionnaire for Laborers,371 migrant workers who came from inland areas ofChina and 100 local workers Xvere investigated.The SCL-90 profile of migrant workers was also compared to the SCL-90 n o r m provided by general people in China. The SCL-90 results showed that the total scores, the average scores of the positive symptoms, the three factor scores of obscssionality, interpersonal sensitivity and phobia in migrant workers were significantly higher than those in the local workers.According to the multivariate analysis, the aniount ofcontribution to mental health, in descending order, was neuroticisni, psychological pressure, income, home sickness, marital or love problems, extroversion and introversion, living conditions and social status.The mental health status of young migrant workers in Shenzhen was poorer than that of their local counterparts, as \vcU as people in China on the SCL-90. It is recommended that niental health workers should help migrant workers adjust to the new urban environment by providing psychological counseling and other relevant treatment facilities.,

Mental Health Status and Related Characteristics of Chinese Male Rural–Urban Migrant Workers

“…This gap suggests that migrant workers have relatively poor mental health. Moreover, it corroborates previously reported findings that rural-urban migrant workers not only have elevated stress levels, but experience more psychological problems (Shen et al 1998;Li et al 2006;Hu and Gu 2008;Jiang et al 2007). These problems may partially stem from a persistently depressed socioeconomic status, which ensues from denial of certain rights of citizenship at the urban destination.…”

“…There are limited data on the mental health status of Chinese rural-urban migrants. One study examined mental health symptoms among 371 (166 males and 205 females) migrant workers in Shenzhen, China (Shen et al 1998). These migrant workers manifested poorer mental health than their nonmigrant counterparts and the general Chinese population.…”

“…Based on the Chinese mental health literature (Shen et al 1998;Li et al 2006;Hu and Gu 2008;Jiang et al 2007) we hypothesized that there would be (a) a high prevalence of mental disorders among rural-urban migrants and that (b) geographic regions and other salient sociodemographics, such as age, sex, education, marital status, income, region of origin, employment status, length of stay in city each year, as well as separation from wife in the migration period (married migrants only), stress, and self-worth would all be associated with mental health status. Because our health questionnaire is a screening tool, not a diagnostic one, positive cases do not simply approximate true cases.…”

Internal migration and depressive symptoms among migrant factory workers in Shenzhen, China

“…In contrast with the findings of other international studies and Shenzhen-based studies (Shen et al, 1998), we found no gender differences in clinically relevant DS status. Previous studies found that females were at higher risk of developing depression compared with their male counterparts because of artefactual and genuine determinants of gender differences (Piccinelli & Wilkinson, 2000).…”

The Mental Health and Life Satisfaction of Children of Drug Abusers in Wenzhou, China

“…The other groups have unmarried women who have undergone abortion (Zhang et al (2010)), earthquake survivors (Wang et al 2000), young migrant workers (Shen et al 1998), etc. The SCL-90 results of different groups of different occupations are different.…”