Oksana Shelemei
Oksana Shelemei2 is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Narcology, and Medical Psychology Department in Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University (Ukraine). Her research focuses on well-being of immigrant women. Her broader interests in research include issues of job satisfaction and its influence on worker’s health.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this article is to examine the mental health of Ukrainian migrant women domestic and care workers in Italy. THEORETICAL BASE: Work-related factors, specifically, type of work, place of living, job satisfaction, duration of working, as well as health status are associated with mental health among migrant workers in other countries. METHODS: The sample consisted of 200 Ukrainian women working in cleaning and personal care service in Italy. All the variables were assessed using a self-administered survey with well-being measured by the Mental Health Continuum Short Form (MHC-SF), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and distress measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory–18 (BSI-18). Pearson Chisquare tests and Multivariate Analysis of Variance were used to explore the associations and comparisons between the variables. OUTCOMES: Significant differences were shown in groups of Ukrainian female domestic and care workers in Italy in the association with the work-related factors and health status. The findings revealed that the domestic and care workers are vulnerable in terms of psychological distress, their work leaves a negative impact on their emotional, social and psychological well-being. SOCIAL WORK IMPLICATIONS: These findings can help professionals develop specific support and self-help strategies as interventions to improve domestic and care workers mental health and well-being.
Keywords
migrant women, job satisfaction, live-in work, well-being, distress
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