Background: Job stress has been associated with cognitive function, but the relationship is often overlooked when considering occupational health and safety issues of farmworkers. This study examined the relationship between stress and change in stress with change in cognitive function in a representative sample of 123 Latino farmworkers.
Methods: A prospective study design was used in which stress and cognitive function data were collected at baseline and at 3-month follow-up. Linear regression models were used for analyses. Potential confounders included baseline gender, age, education, number of years worked in U.S. agriculture, ever smoking status, self-rated health, and depressive symptoms.
Results: Baseline stress was significantly correlated with baseline cognitive function (r = -0.27; P < 0.001). Adjusting for confounders, increased baseline stress was associated with greater decline in cognitive function (P = 0.024). Short-term changes in stress were not associated with cognitive change in this cohort.
Conclusions: Stress at work is an important risk factor for poor cognitive function. This analysis suggests several implications for the provision of health care and for the organization of work for farmworkers.
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