Mayra Del Carmen

Project Leader Mayra del Carmen, Ph.D.
MSU Department of Psychology
mayra.delcarmen@montana.edu 

This project investigates occupational health risks experienced by low-wage, precarious, and low-status workers in Gallatin Valley, Montana, particularly those employed in construction and service industries. These jobs often involve physically demanding labor, unsafe conditions, limited autonomy, and minimal legal protections. Together, these factors contribute to uneven physical and mental health outcomes. The project’s long-term goal is to improve workplace health conditions for rural and low-status workers by identifying modifiable job-related challenges and informing ethical, community-informed approaches. The study includes two primary aims: (1) to establish and engage a five-member Community Advisory Board (CAB) composed of local workers who will co-lead key phases of the project, including question design, recruitment, and data interpretation; and (2) to conduct a workplace needs assessment through in-depth qualitative interviews with 20 construction and service workers. CAB members will also provide feedback on themes and findings to ensure relevance to the realities of the local labor force.

Using a community-based participatory research framework, the project integrates interviews, CAB consultation, and thematically driven data analysis to generate actionable knowledge about health and well-being in often-overlooked labor sectors. Attention is given to overlapping factors such as immigration history, language, and job-related experiences that influence workplace conditions and access to support. By centering worker expertise and prioritizing language-accessible and contextually grounded methods, the project aligns with the mission of the Center for American Indian and Rural Health Excellence and aims to produce data that can support healthier workplace environments in Montana and beyond.