A rural state of mind: Mental well-being and social isolation among Haitian and Hispanic farmworkers in Florida

Haitian and Hispanic farmworkers face distinct psychosocial and occupational stressors that contribute to poor mental well-being, yet their experiences remain understudied. This study examined (1) the psychosocial and occupational determinants of depression and anxiety among Haitian and Hispanic farmworkers in rural Florida and (2) the role of social isolation as a mediator in these relationships. Using a community-based participatory cross-sectional design, we interviewed 161 farmworkers (80 Hispanic, 81 Haitian) from four rural agricultural communities in Florida. Regression analyses assessed associations between stressors and mental well-being, while mediation analysis using Baron and Kenny's framework with bootstrapping tested whether social isolation mediated these effects, controlling for age, gender, education, and number of dependents. Findings showed that a stressful migration journey strongly predicted Haitian farmworker depression and anxiety, while secondary non-agricultural employment increased anxiety through heightened social isolation. In contrast, migration journey stress was not significantly linked to mental well-being, while holding a secondary job reduced anxiety by lowering social isolation for Hispanic farmworkers. Limited English fluency had no effect on Haitians but significantly increased anxiety among Hispanics through social isolation. Workplace mistreatment based on race/ethnicity and gender strongly predicted depression and anxiety in both groups. Social isolation mediated these effects. These findings highlight the need for tailored interventions that address ethnic differences in risk factors that may improve access to culturally competent mental health services, mitigate workplace mistreatment, and foster social integration. As immigration policies become more restrictive, it is crucial to continue reducing social isolation and addressing mental health disparities among farmworkers.