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Psychosocial Risks in Informal Employment: A Scoping Review
María F Cuenca-Lozano1, Gabriel A Jaramillo-Ochoa1
1Departamento de Química y Producción, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja 110107, Ecuador.
Summary
Informal employment is linked to higher stress, depression, and anxiety, particularly for women and immigrants. Extending labor protections to these workers is crucial for mental health and reducing vulnerability.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Informal employment affects 2 billion workers globally, lacking regulation, security, and social protection.
- This employment sector disproportionately impacts vulnerable groups, including immigrants and women.
- Informal work is a structural feature in both low/middle- and high-income countries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between informal employment and psychosocial risks.
- To synthesize evidence on mental health outcomes in informal work settings.
Main Methods:
- A scoping review was conducted across four major databases (ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed).
- Eligibility criteria focused on primary studies linking psychosocial risk factors in informal employment to mental health outcomes.
- PRISMA-ScR guidelines were followed, excluding prior systematic reviews.
Main Results:
- A consistent association was found between informal employment and increased symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety.
- These adverse mental health effects were particularly pronounced among women and undocumented immigrants.
- The final analysis included 12 primary studies.
Conclusions:
- Findings support extending labor and social protection to informal workers, including unpaid caregivers.
- Addressing socioeconomic exclusion, lack of labor rights, and occupational decline is vital.
- Reducing structural inequalities is essential to mitigate mental health impacts of precarious employment.
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