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Health Inequalities among Workers with a Foreign Background in Sweden: Do Working Conditions Matter?

Author

Listed:
  • Andrea C. Dunlavy

    (Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), Stockholm University/Karolinska Institute, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Mikael Rostila

    (Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), Stockholm University/Karolinska Institute, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden)

Abstract

Employment and working conditions are key social determinants of health, yet current information is lacking regarding relationships between foreign background status, working conditions and health among workers in Sweden. This study utilized cross-sectional data from the 2010 Swedish Level of Living Survey (LNU) and the Level of Living Survey for Foreign Born Persons and their Children (LNU-UFB) to assess whether or not health inequalities exist between native Swedish and foreign background workers and if exposure to adverse psychosocial and physical working conditions contributes to the risk for poor health among foreign background workers. A sub-sample of 4,021 employed individuals aged 18–65 was analyzed using logistic regression. Eastern European, Latin American and Other Non-Western workers had an increased risk of both poor self-rated health and mental distress compared to native Swedish workers. Exposure to adverse working conditions only minimally influenced the risk of poor health. Further research should examine workers who are less integrated or who have less secure labor market attachments and also investigate how additional working conditions may influence associations between health and foreign background status.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrea C. Dunlavy & Mikael Rostila, 2013. "Health Inequalities among Workers with a Foreign Background in Sweden: Do Working Conditions Matter?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-17, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:10:y:2013:i:7:p:2871-2887:d:27079
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Åslund, Olof & Nordström Skans, Oskar, 2005. "Will I see you at work? Ethnic workplace segregation in Sweden 1985–2002," Working Paper Series 2005:24, IFAU - Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy.
    2. Johnson, J.V. & Stewart, W. & Hall, E.M. & Fredlund, P. & Theorell, T., 1996. "Long-term psychosocial work environment and cardiovascular mortality among Swedish men," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 86(3), pages 324-331.
    3. Mackenbach, Johan P., 2012. "The persistence of health inequalities in modern welfare states: The explanation of a paradox," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(4), pages 761-769.
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    Cited by:

    1. Basak Yanar & Agnieszka Kosny & Peter M. Smith, 2018. "Occupational Health and Safety Vulnerability of Recent Immigrants and Refugees," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-16, September.
    2. Pinar Aslan Akay & Nader Ahmadi, 2022. "The Work Environment of Immigrant Employees in Sweden—a Systematic Review," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 2235-2268, December.
    3. Janki Shankar & Daniel Lai & Shu-Ping Chen & Tanvir C. Turin & Shawn Joseph & Ellen Mi, 2022. "Highly Educated Immigrant Workers’ Perspectives of Occupational Health and Safety and Work Conditions That Challenge Work Safety," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-18, July.
    4. Elisabeth Ugreninov, 2023. "Absence Due to Sickness Among Female Immigrants: Disadvantages Over the Career?," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 1455-1475, September.

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