Stress and Related Factors for Thai Workers in Malaysia

Abstract

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to assess stress and its related factor in Thai workers who had worked in Malaysia. Data were collected from October 2016 to September 2017 in 275 Thai workers who had worked for at least 6 months and underwent health examination under the ASEAN plus Three Health Care Program (ASEAN PLUS), organized by Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health. Research instruments consisted of two parts; first was demographic data, second was individual stress assessment modified by Department of Mental Health. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. This study was reviewed and approved by the ethics committee, Rajavithi hospital. The majority was female with mean age of 40.79±11.55 years. The mean BMI was 24.38± 3.95 kg/m2. Most of the participants had educational level less than bachelor (37.9%), worked as occupied housewives, massage, or chef (56.9%), monthly income less than 20,000 baht, domiciled in the north of Thailand (31.1%), more than half lived in Malaysia less than 5 years. Most of workers had 1-2 family members who must be bear the burden of support. An average working time was 10.16±1.67 hours daily. Most did not have underlying diseases and medication. Most drank tea or coffee (77.3%), and 69.8% drank tea or coffee daily, mostly non-smoking and non-alcoholic. The majority of subjects had normal level of stress (88.5%); only 11.5% were slightly higher of stress level. Factor related stress was the number of family members who must bear the burden of support (p=0.010). The finding is useful to monitor the stress for Thai workers. Evidence-based to be used to support a health care program for workers by focusing on the integrated physical and mental health. Further relevance factors should be explored.