Invisible Workforce, Visible Distress: Understanding the relationship of Depression, Anxiety and Stress with Well-being in the Indian Female Domestic Help workers (Informal economy)

Abstract

The Female Domestic Help workers in India form an invisible workforce of the informal economy that is highly oppressed, systematically exploited, and inevitably prone to developing mental health issues. Preliminary research suggests that this group is highly vulnerable to struggles such as acute financial stress, domestic problems, workplace harassment, etc (Sharma and Chandhok,2025). These factors, along with a lack of social support and perceived safety, increase the risk of mental illness. The population of Female Domestic Help workers is undeniably significant and vital, as they support and contribute to society's social and economic fabric in crucial ways. They are, in many ways, an invisible backbone of today’s human civilisation. Given the importance of this segment of society, the present research was conducted to examine the relationship between levels of depression, anxiety, stress and the well-being of Female Indian Domestic Help workers. To facilitate this study, a total sample of 117 female domestic help workers was approached from the select districts of the North and South zones of Delhi-NCR. A total of 117 interviews were conducted using the technique of convenience and snowball sampling.  The instruments employed to collect data in the present study were the Hindi version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) and WHO Well-being Index (1998). The preliminary findings of the study were indicative of the presence and experience of moderate to high levels of distress in the workers (M=18.3). It also indicated mild levels of Depression(M=11.9). Other important findings were reflective of severe levels of anxiety (M=16.6) and low levels of well-being (M=7.40) across both the zones. The results were further indicative of a negative correlation between depression, anxiety, Anxiety, Stress and Well-being. The variables of Depression, Anxiety and Stress were found to be strongly interrelated; they depicted a weak positive correlation with well-being, which was insignificant. This finding is indicative of how Psychological Distress does not significantly predict well-being in this sample. The present study adds to the empirical data concerning the pertinent mental health struggles and issues being faced by the informal community of workers today in India. It lays the foundation and future directives for an immediate and urgent need of psychological interventions and support programmes for the welfare of this underacknowledged population of workers.