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Employment Frustration and Alcohol Abuse/Dependence Among Labor Migrants in California

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Abstract

We test whether or not labor market frustration is associated with clinical alcohol abuse/dependence diagnoses among labor migrants living in California. Our sample consists of 1576 Mexican labor migrants in Fresno, CA, who migrated for the purpose of seeking employment. Using clinical criterion (DSM-III-R), we find that frustrating experiences resulting from labor market exclusion and discrimination are significantly related to past-year alcohol abuse/dependence. Similarly, although high levels of social support are salutary, they are not protective among those who experience moderate/high levels of employment frustration. Since Mexican-origin immigrants have low rates of health insurance coverage and lower propensities for formal help-seeking, community outreach programs that target labor migrants are essential to this population's mental health maintenance.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California

    Brian Karl Finch

  2. School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California

    Ralph C. Catalano

  3. School of Social Ecology, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California

    Raymond W. Novaco

  4. Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry—New Brunswick, New Jersey

    William A. Vega

Authors
  1. Brian Karl Finch
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  2. Ralph C. Catalano
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  3. Raymond W. Novaco
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  4. William A. Vega
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Correspondence to Brian Karl Finch.

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Finch, B.K., Catalano, R.C., Novaco, R.W. et al. Employment Frustration and Alcohol Abuse/Dependence Among Labor Migrants in California. Journal of Immigrant Health 5, 181–186 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026119226083

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026119226083

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