Perri Melissa, O'Campo Patricia, Gill Paneet, Gunn Virginia, Ma Rachel W, Buhariwala Pearl, Rasoulian Elham, Lewchuk Wayne, Baron Sherry, Bodin Theo, Muntaner Carles
Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
BMC Public Health. 2024 Jul 31;24(1):2074. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-19363-3.
Precarious employment (PE) is non-standard employment with uncertain and unstable contract duration, low wages, and limited labour protections and rights. Research has associated PE with workers' poor mental health and well-being; however, this association has been studied primarily using quantitative methods. This qualitative study seeks to examine the mechanisms between PE and mental health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada. Specifically, it aims to address: (Benach J, Muntaner C. Precarious employment and health: developing a research agenda. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2007;61(4):276.) How do PE and working conditions impact the mental well-being of workers and members of their close families or households?; and (Kreshpaj B, Orellana C, Burström B, Davis L, Hemmingsson T, Johansson G, et al. What is precarious employment? A systematic review of definitions and operationalizations from quantitative and qualitative studies. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2020;46(3):235-47.) How has the COVID-19 pandemic shaped these relationships? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 40 individuals aged 25-55 engaged in PE during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic or whose employment was terminated due to the pandemic. Results showed that PE amplified mental health symptoms and illnesses for workers and their families. These experiences were described as chronic, where impacts were exerted on precariously employed workers through systemic discrimination and racism, colonialism, workplace hierarchies, and gendered ideologies. PE negatively impacted mental health through emotional stress about employment and income instability, insecurity, and loss; added pressure for households where both partners are engaged in PE; impacted ability to maintain or improve overall health and well-being; and barriers to social connectedness. Overall, this study characterizes multiple dimensions of PE and the consequences they have on the mental health of workers and their families.
不稳定就业（PE）是一种非标准就业形式，合同期限不确定且不稳定，工资低，劳动保护和权利有限。研究表明，不稳定就业与工人的心理健康和幸福感不佳有关；然而，这种关联主要是通过定量方法进行研究的。这项定性研究旨在探讨在加拿大安大略省新冠疫情背景下不稳定就业与心理健康之间的机制。具体而言，其目的是解决：（贝纳奇J，蒙塔纳C。不稳定就业与健康：制定研究议程。《流行病学与社区卫生杂志》。2007年；61(4):276。）不稳定就业和工作条件如何影响工人及其亲密家庭成员或家庭住户成员的心理健康？以及（克雷什帕伊B，奥雷利亚纳C，布尔斯特伦B，戴维斯L，赫明松T，约翰松G等。什么是不稳定就业？对定量和定性研究中的定义及操作化的系统评价。《斯堪的纳维亚工作环境与健康杂志》。2020年；46(3):235 - 47。）新冠疫情如何塑造了这些关系？对40名年龄在25 - 55岁之间的个体进行了半结构化访谈，这些个体在新冠疫情第一波期间从事不稳定就业，或者其就业因疫情而终止。结果表明，不稳定就业加剧了工人及其家庭的心理健康症状和疾病。这些经历被描述为长期性的，不稳定就业工人受到的影响是通过系统性歧视和种族主义、殖民主义、职场等级制度以及性别观念等因素造成的。不稳定就业通过对就业和收入不稳定、不安全及损失的情绪压力对心理健康产生负面影响；给夫妻双方都从事不稳定就业的家庭增加了压力；影响维持或改善整体健康和幸福感的能力；以及造成社会联系方面的障碍。总体而言，本研究描述了不稳定就业的多个维度及其对工人及其家庭心理健康的影响。
