Influence of Employment Conditions and Length of Residence on Adherence to Dietary Recommendations in Immigrant Workers in Spain

Abstract

The objective of this article is to analyze the influence of employment conditions on adherence to dietary recommendations among those born in Spain and immigrants by their time of residence. Data were used from the Platform of Longitudinal Studies of Immigrant Families (PELFI) cohort (n = 215) to compare Spaniards and immigrants with <14 and >14 years of residence. The questionnaire on frequency of food consumption (15 items) was used to measure adherence to dietary recommendations. Logistic regression models were used, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and employment conditions. Adherence to dietary recommendations was greater among Spaniards, followed by immigrants with >14 years of residence and <14 years of residence. The greatest adherence among Spaniards was for eggs (immigrants ≥ 14 years: 1/ORa = 2.89, <14 years: 1/ORa = 3.92), fish (immigrants ≥ 14 immigrants: 1/ORa = 2.33, <14 years: 1/ORa = 4.72), vegetables (immigrants ≥ 14 years: 1/ORa = 3.26, <14 years: 1/ORa = 4.87), dairy products (immigrants ≥ 14 years: 1/ORa = 14.34, <14 years: 1/ORa = 26.78), and sugary drinks (immigrants ≥14 years: 1/ORa = 2.12, <14 years: 1/ORa = 3.48), and the lowest adherence was for the consumption of sausages and cold cuts (immigrants ≥ 14 years: Ora = 7.62, <14 years: ORa = 24.65). Adjusting for sociodemographic and employment conditions variables did not result in variation in the observed differences between Spaniards, immigrants with <14 years of residence, and immigrants with >14 years of residence.