Understanding the Mental Health of Migrant Workers During the COVID-19 Outbreak

This study aims to evaluate the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international migrant workers by (1) documenting mental health symptoms among migrant workers and (2) identifying risk and protective factors during the pandemic.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Mental Health Issue

Detailed Description

Worldwide, there are an estimated 164 million migrant workers. Although studies have documented how migrant workers have an increased risk of adverse mental health outcomes, little is known about their mental health burden during a large-scale health crisis.

In the current COVID-19 outbreak, migrant workers represent 9 in 10 of the COVID-19 cases in Singapore, with 25 dormitories gazetted to contain the spread of the virus. Correspondingly, these measures have placed a spotlight on the mental well-being of migrant workers.

In this research protocol, the investigators propose to administer a survey to understand the prevalence and predictors of mental health symptoms amongst migrant workers in Singapore. In particular, prior meta-analyses have identified COVID-19 health concerns, quarantine status, financial instability, exposure to news and misinformation and demographics (i.e., gender, age, education) as risk factors for poor mental health amongst the general population. By assessing these factors amongst the migrant worker population and documenting their impact on migrant workers' mental health, we hope to identify workers in greatest need of support during the ongoing pandemic and provide empirical evidence to guide public health policies.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 1011

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Singapore
  • Singapore, Singapore
    • EXPO

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 21 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Migrant workers employed in manual labor jobs within Singapore

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• ≥21 years of age
• Hold a government-issued work permit identifying employment status

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
DASS-21 Scores	Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) is a validated 21-item measure that has been widely used during the current COVID-19 pandemic.	single measurement upon study enrolment

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Yale-NUS College

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 22, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 11, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): October 11, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 25, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 25, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): June 26, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): January 13, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 12, 2023
• Last Verified: January 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: CCF@EXPO/R001/2020

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No