Occupational Stigma and Mental Health: Discrimination and Depression among Front-Line Service Workers

A large body of research shows a link between stigma and poor health; yet stigma is complex and involves several processes. This paper employs a social determinants of health perspective to shed light on the link between work and one dimension of stigma—discrimination. It examines discrimination and depression with data from a comparative study of three front-line service jobs: sex work, serving food and alcohol, and barbering and hairstyling. Our findings show positive associations between depression and the most highly stigmatized occupation—sex work—and between discrimination and depression. Discrimination mediates part of the association between sex work and depression, and self-worth partially mediates the association between discrimination and depression. Equity policies that improve their social determinants will contribute to better mental health for sex industry workers. Additional strategies aimed at reducing the formidable discrimination linked to their work are also urgently needed.