Silent Killers of the Night: An Exploration of Psychological Health and Suicidality among Female Street Sex Workers

Abstract

This article examines factors that relate to psychological health (as measured by the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument) as well as suicide attempts among female street sex workers (FSSWs) in Hong Kong. On average, our sampled FSSWs scored significantly lower on the psychological health domain in comparison to the general Hong Kong female population. Factors associated with the working environment in the sex industry were significantly associated with poor psychological health and suicidality. Greater attention is needed to examine the physical and emotional harm intrinsic to certain occupations and the role of financial needs in the experience of psychological stress.

Mental Health and HIV-Related High-Risk Behaviors Among Female Sex Workers

“…According to GSI results, almost two-thirds of the sex workers experienced significantly moderate to severe disorder symptoms more than women in the control group. These results are in line with the studies in Hong Kong and France (21,22), but in contrast with the findings of a study in New Zealand, which found no significant difference between sex workers and other women with respect to general wellbeing (23). The results of another study on FSWs in the USA found that more than one-third of the participants suffered from anxiety symptoms and more than half of them had depression symptoms (24).…”

Violence Against Chinese Female Sex Workers From Their Stable Partners: A Hierarchical Multiple Regression Analysis

“…If women cannot afford to lose their abusive stable partners to support themselves or their families financially, they may have to tolerate the continuum of risks including IPV. A multifaceted intervention is urgently needed to address how strategies that were proven effective in Western settings (Bauermeister, Tross, & Ehrhardt, 2009; Ling, Wong, Holroyd, & Gray, 2007) could be adapted and tailored in the milieu of China to empower FSWs in China. It is compelling for stakeholders at all levels (e.g., policymakers, health care providers) to reconsider the economic and educational development opportunities for these socioeconomically marginalized women and to increase the protection of their human rights in China.…”

Depression and Its Relation with HIV Risk and Social Well-Being among the Brothel-Based Female Sex Workers in Kolkata, India

“…Sahay et al, [31] found that Indians who are engaged in high-risk behavior are almost 3 times more likely to be depressed and anxious. Similarly, scholars have found that stigma, violence, conflict with clients and poverty significantly compromise mental health among sex workers in Hong Kong [32], Great Britain [33], China [34] and Canada [35]. A recent study in India observed that almost 35% of a sample of sex workers reported suicidal ideation, and 19% of them attempted suicide at least in one occasion in the past [36].…”