A population-based study of job stress in Mexican Americans, non-hispanic blacks, and non-hispanic whites

There is little known about the association between socioeconomic status and job stress in Mexican Americans. To address this issue, data were originated on a community level using personal interviews from working Mexican Americans using a multistage probability sample. In this study we described the population's sociodemographic characteristics, health conditions, and job stress measures in Mexican Americans, non-Hispanic Whites, and non-Hispanic Blacks. Regression models were used to examine the associations of sociodemographic characteristics and health conditions for each job stress measure among 937 individuals. Our results indicate an association between low socioeconomic status and the perception of less job control, less job security, and less social support. Mexican Americans demonstrated more job security and social support in comparison to non-Hispanic Whites of similar socioeconomic status. We were able to define potential factors that may contribute to an individual's perception of job stress.