Al Mal Tiempo, Buena Cara (keeping a good face during bad times): Differential psychosocial and health profiles between Hispanic and non-Hispanic public-school teachers in Texas

Abstract

Objective

This study evaluated if Hispanic public-school educators are at an increased risk for psychological distress, general health conditions, and mental health issues and disorders.

Methods

Using a cross-sectional, online survey, Hispanic (n = 702) and non-Hispanic (n = 2554) K-12 public school teachers participated in an occupational health study to examine differences between Hispanic and non-Hispanic teachers’ occupational factors, psychological and social factors, and physical health.

Results

The results showed that Hispanic teachers demonstrated lower levels of psychosocial functioning, and higher rates of major depressive disorder, somatization disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. Hispanic educators reported poorer levels of physical functioning, including sleep disturbances, various body pains, skin rashes, allergies, tinnitus, vision issues, and deficits to balance and memory loss.

Conclusions

Hispanic educators are more likely to experience ethnic disparities complicating intersectional stressors found among an already psychologically vulnerable minoritized population. As an underserved ethnic group, it’s important for school districts to provide culturally informed mental health and general health programs that address ethnic disparities, such as cultural stress, mental illness stigmas, access to professional services, and the importance of receiving quality care.

PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Hispanics are a vulnerable population, and disparities can potentially create inequalities within the teaching field. Hispanic teachers demonstrated higher rates of major depressive disorder, somatization disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder compared to non-Hispanic teachers. Hispanic teachers’ health behaviors and health-related symptoms indicate concerning inequalities as well, such that Hispanic educators were more likely to report poorer levels of physical health, which may manifest as somatic symptoms.

Keywords:

• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Hispanic teachers
• major depressive disorder
• mental health
• occupational health
• physical health

Acknowledgments

We thank Elia Bueno, Melissa Garza, and Rosa Burroughs for their contributions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data will be shared upon reasonable request.