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Association between informal employment and depressive symptoms in 11 cities in Latin America
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Association between informal employment and depressive symptoms in 11 cities in Latin America

Tran B. Huynh, Vanessa M. Oddo, Bricia Trejo, Kari Moore, D. Alex Quistberg, Jannie J. Kim, Francisco Diez-Canseco and Alejandra Vives
SSM - population health, v 18, 101101
Jun 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2022.101101
PMID: 35698484
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2022.101101View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open CC BY V4.0

Abstract

Depression Informal employment Latin American and the Caribbean Mental Health
Mental health is an important contributor to the global burden of disease, and depression is the most prevalent mental disorder in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Informal jobs, often characterized by precarious working conditions, low wages, and limited employment benefits, are also highly prevalent in LAC and may be associated with poorer mental health. Our study tests the association between informal employment and major depressive symptoms in LAC cities. We used individual-level data collected by the Development Bank of Latin America via their “Encuesta CAF” (ECAF) 2016, a cross-sectional household survey of 11 LAC cities (N = 5430). Depressive symptoms were measured using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale with possible total score ranging from 0 to 30. Scores were dichotomized, with a score >‾ 16 indicating the presence of major depressive symptoms. Informal employment was defined based on self-reported lack of contribution to the social security system. We used generalized estimating equation (GEE) log-binomial models to estimate the association between informal employment and depressive symptoms overall and by gender. Models were adjusted for age, education, and household characteristics. Overall, individuals employed in informal jobs had a 27% higher prevalence of major depressive symptoms (Prevalence Ratio [PR]: 1.27; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.00, 1.62) compared to those in formal jobs. The prevalence of depressive symptoms among individuals with informal jobs was higher compared to those with formal jobs in both women (PR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.74) and men (PR: 1.22; 95% CI: 0.90, 1.65). Informal employment in LAC was associated with a higher prevalence of major depressive symptoms. It is important to develop policies aiming at reducing informal jobs and increasing universal social protection for informal workers. •Informal employment is associated with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms in Latin America.•Associations for both men and women were similar in direction and magnitude but only among women was the association statistically significant.

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12 Record Views
11 citations in Web of Science
11 citations in Scopus

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#10 Reduced Inequalities

Source: SDGs in the Output

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
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