Exploring causes and consequences of sex workers' psychological health: Implications for health care policy. A study conducted in Spain

ABSTRACT

The aim of the researchers is to explore the causes and consequences of the psychological health of sex workers as well as provide an intervention model for the prevention of mental disorders in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) levels. The study sample consisted of 146 sex workers from Spain. Loneliness and maltreatment have a negative influence on psychological health, while self-esteem has a protector role over psychological health. Psychological health has a positive impact on perceived quality of life and other health domains. On the contrary, psychological health has a negative impact on drug use and symptoms of anxiety. Data are discussed.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committees and the Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Notes

1. Prostitution and sex work are used as synonyms in this study, as with prostitute and sex worker.