Depression and its correlations with health-risk behaviors and social capital among female migrants working in entertainment venues in China.

Qiaohong Yang,Don Operario,Yanyan Dong,Hongbo Zhang,Nickolas Zaller,Wen Huang,Assel Terlikbayeva

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0191632

Abstract

ObjectivesAmong the dramatic increased internal migration in China in past three decades, a considerable proportion of young females migrated to urban areas and found employment in “entertainment venues”, who may be vulnerable to psychological distress. This study examines the prevalence of depression and explores its associations with health-risk behaviors and social capital among this subgroup.Methods358 female migrants were recruited from entertainment venues in a rapidly growing urban city in China. A survey which included measures of depressive symptoms, health-risk behaviors, social capital, and socio-demographic characteristics was administered. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to identify the independent correlates of depression.ResultsOf participants, 31.0% had clinically significant depressive symptoms (CES-D score ≥ 16). In multivariable models, greater likelihood of depressive symptoms was associated with working in massage centers/hotels (OR = 3.20, 95% CI: 1.80–5.70), having probable alcohol dependence (OR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.22–4.16), self-reported lifetime use of illicit drugs (OR = 2.98, 95% CI: 1.26–7.06), growing up in a non-nuclear family (OR = 2.46, 95% CI: 1.18–5.16), and poor social capital (OR = 6.01, 95% CI = 2.02–17.87).ConclusionIntervention strategies to address the high prevalence of depression among female migrants are needed, and should also aim to reduce problematic alcohol and drug use, improve social capital, and target women working in massage centers or hotels.

Highlights

Stimulated by rapid modernization and industrialization, China has witnessed a dramatic increase in internal migration in the past three decades
Greater likelihood of depressive symptoms was associated with working in massage centers/hotels (OR = 3.20, 95% CI: 1.80–5.70), having probable alcohol dependence (OR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.22–4.16), self-reported lifetime use of illicit drugs (OR = 2.98, 95% CI: 1.26–7.06), growing up in a non-nuclear family (OR = 2.46, 95% CI: 1.18–5.16), and poor social capital (OR = 6.01, 95% CI = 2.02–17.87)
Intervention strategies to address the high prevalence of depression among female migrants are needed, and should aim to reduce problematic alcohol and drug use, improve social capital, and target women working in massage centers or hotels

Summary

Introduction

Stimulated by rapid modernization and industrialization, China has witnessed a dramatic increase in internal migration in the past three decades. The estimated number of internal migrants in China increased from 6.75 million in 1982 to 253 million in 2014 [1, 2]. Many rural-to-urban migrants in China seek economic opportunities for themselves and their families, they often lead socially and residentially isolated lives in the city [3, 4]. Mental health problems among rural-to-urban migrants in China who are often young working-age adults, due to geographic dislocation form family and communities of support are an emerging concern. Several highly publicized suicides and attempted suicides of young migrant workers in southern China brought widespread public attention to this population [9]

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