Background Immigrants (or foreign born individuals) make up about 17% of US workers and yet over 40% of the low-wage workforce. Immigrant workers are more likely to be employed in service industries, are paid less, and experience higher rate of injuries and illnesses than their native counterparts. They are exposed to a multitude of hazards in their workplace as well as other stressors outside of work. This study explored stressors leading to ill health among a group of low-wage immigrant workers.

Method We recruited adult immigrants working as hotel housekeepers- a representative group of low-wage service workers. Participants completed survey questionnaires, the SF12 and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHDQ-2). Descriptive statistics including mean and standard deviation, frequency, and percentage were calculated. Independent t-test were carried out using SPSS 22.0 software.

Results 22 Mexican immigrants and 8 others participated in the study. Among Mexican immigrants, younger age of migration was significantly correlated with more chronic diseases (r=0.44, p=0.041). Compared to other-foreign-country-born workers, Mexico-born workers were younger when they first came to US (t=2.08, p=0.048) and experienced less discrimination (t=3.73, p=0.001). The two groups did not differ in other stressors including length of stay, demands of immigration, and money sent to others (Ps>0.05). Mexico-born workers had less chronic diseases and better SF-12 physical health than the other immigrant workers (t=2.46, p=0.038; t=2.18, p=0.037). Across both groups, higher demands of immigration were significantly associated with more chronic diseases (r=0.43, p=0.047), poorer SF-12 mental health (r=−0.56, p=0.007), and more severe depressive symptoms (r=0.58, p=0.009). Higher everyday discrimination was significantly associated with poorer mental health (r=−0.47, p=0.023) and more severe depressive symptoms (r=0.66, p=0.001).

Implications Immigrant-specific factors affect Hotel housekeepers’ health. Studies are needed to identify the protective factors (e.g. social support, enclaves) that can buffer the stressors affecting the health of these immigrant workers.