Going Beyond the Injury: Regulatory Conditions Contributing to Latina/o Immigrants’ Occupational Psychosocial Stressors

BACKGROUND Utilizing a psychosocial stress approach, we report psychosocial stressors that Latina/o immigrant day laborers in Baltimore report as workplace hazards and the contextual factors that shape these stressors. METHODS Through a community-academic partnership, we conducted focus groups (n = 18) and key informant interviews (n = 9) using instruments developed between academics and the community partner to inquire Latina/o immigrants' jobs, hazard awareness, occupational illnesses and injuries, and reporting behaviors. We conducted a transcript-based thematic analysis. RESULTS The psychosocial stressors that Latina/o day laborers report as dangers at work are anxiety beating the deadline and fear from wage theft, sudden termination and immigration enforcement. DISCUSSION More attention needs to be given to Latina/o immigrant day laborers' occupational psychosocial risks. Policies should be made to lower barriers for Latina/o immigrants to report grievances to state agencies.