Immigrant women, work and health

This study examines the association between immigrant women's self-reported health and their employment status and occupation using data on 859 immigrant women aged 20--64 from the 1994--95 National Population Health Survey. Of this group, 502 were in paid employment, 107 assessed their global health as poor, and 158 reported one or more disability days in the previous two weeks. Distress scores ranged from 0--21 (mean 3.85). Logistic and multiple linear regression showed being employed (vs. not being in paid employment) was associated with better self-assessed global health when age, education, income, marital status, country of birth and time since immigration were controlled and women's care-giving role was accounted for. However, this protective association was weaker in women who also reported caring for their family as a main activity. Significant associations between work and disability days or mental distress did not occur. Among 476 immigrant women currently employed in their main occupation, manual workers had poorer self-reported health and higher mental distress scores than others