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TL;DR
The study used an online convenience sample and cross-sectional design, limiting generalizability and causal inference.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 2 authors, 2 centres
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The study used an online convenience sample and cross-sectional design, limiting generalizability and causal inference.
International migrant workers face significant mental health risks due to cultural adjustment, hazardous working and living conditions, loneliness, and limited healthcare access, yet their mental health remains understudied. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and identify associated factors among Indonesian migrant workers in Taiwan. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was administered to Indonesian migrant workers in Taiwan. Depressive symptoms were measured using the CES-D scale (cutoff >10). Logistic regression was used to identify associated demographic, health, and living/work factors. Key Results: Approximately 15% of participants had depressive symptoms. After adjusting for covariates, significant factors associated with depressive symptoms included younger age, lower educational level, less frequent family contact, poorer self-rated health, shorter time in Taiwan (less than 2 years), working in the northern region, dissatisfaction with the living environment, and inability to go out freely after work. Notably, financial burden and having children were not significantly associated with depressive symptoms, possibly due to the salary differential between Taiwan and Indonesia. Limitations: The cross-sectional design precludes causal conclusions; convenience sampling and online data collection may have excluded workers without internet access (e.g., those in agriculture or fisheries), likely underestimating prevalence; results may not generalize to migrant workers from other countries. Implications: Findings identify younger, less-educated workers and those with restricted living conditions as priority groups for targeted mental health interventions. Policymakers should enforce dormitory standards and working-hour regulations to improve migrant worker well-being.