Experiences with COVID-19 Stress Among Hispanic/Latino Farmworkers

Highlights The majority of Hispanic/Latino agricultural workers surveyed reported experiencing stress about becoming infected with and contracting COVID-19. A small proportion of Hispanic/Latino agricultural workers surveyed reported experiencing instances of COVID-19 traumatic stress. Hispanic/Latino farmworkers reported stress surrounding their ability to financially provide for their families as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Abstract. Hispanics/Latinos, particularly those that identify as foreign-born, are overrepresented in the agricultural sector in the U.S. Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, this subpopulation of farmworkers was recognized as an invaluable group of essential workers unable to implement COVID-19 protections. Previously validated COVID-19 stress scale measures were identified, adapted, and translated to collect COVID-19 stress data from Hispanic/Latino agricultural workers in two heavily agricultural counties in northeastern North Carolina. Participants were recruited using purposive convenience sampling. Data collection took place from June to November of 2021. The majority of Hispanic/Latino agricultural workers surveyed reported experiencing worries about catching COVID-19 (92.00%) and being infected with the virus (95.95%). A small proportion of the surveyed population indicated experiencing COVID-19 traumatic stress. More than half of participants were concerned about the impacts COVID-19 would have on their ability to see (53.42%) and provide for their families (58.33%). Farmworkers bore relatively heavy stress burdens associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Because this group is a vulnerable population at risk for adverse health outcomes, reports numerous barriers to healthcare access, and faces health and safety challenges related to acculturative stress, understanding their experiences with COVID-19 is essential for the development of protective and preventative efforts to improve outcomes among Hispanic/Latino farmworkers. Keywords: Agricultural workers, COVID-19, Farmworkers, Hispanic/Latino, stress.