The impact of decision latitude, psychological load and social support at work on musculoskeletal symptoms

Abstract

The study was based on questionnaires and the subjects consisted of 755 male and female employees in different occupations. The aim was to explore the relationship between the combined effects of perceived decision latitude (control), psychological load and social support at work on work-related neck, shoulder and low-back symptoms. Prevalence rate ratios, stratified for age and sex, were calculated for different combinations in the 3-dimensional model where the theoretically lowest strain group (i.e. low psychological load, high decision latitude and high social support) was used as a reference category. Persons who perceived their psychological work-load as high and their decision latitude as low reported more musculoskeletal symptoms than persons with low psychological load and high decision latitude. The addition of social support at work is a significant dimension in moderating decision latitude; without support from supervisors and fellow workers it was not sufficient to reduce the impact of psychological load on musculoskeletal symptoms. The use of the 3-dimensional model provided a good picture of what structural characteristics of working life could constitute an increased risk for the occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms.