Work-related Psychosocial Risk Factors Research Articles

Gender Differences in Self-Reported Physical and Psychosocial Exposures in Jobs With Both Female and Male Workers

The aim was to determine whether men and women with the same job are equally exposed to work-related physical and psychosocial risk factors for musculoskeletal complaints. Men (n = 491) and women (n = 342) in 8 jobs with both female and male workers completed a questionnaire on exposure to work-related risk factors. Gender, job title, and potential confounders were included in the final statistical models. Separate analyses were performed for desk workers and assembly workers. For most risk factors gender differences in exposure were found. Among desk workers exposures were most often higher for women, which was the opposite for assembly workers. Although exposure assessment relied on self-report, it seems unlikely that gender differences in reporting behavior completely explained gender differences in exposure. Thus, gender differences in exposure are present within the same job.

Gender differences in the relations between work-related physical and psychosocial risk factors and musculoskeletal complaints.

Gender differences in the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints might be explained by differences in the effect of exposure to work-related physical and psychosocial risk factors. A systematic review was conducted to examine gender differences in the relations between these risk factors and musculoskeletal complaints. Several electronic databases were searched. The strength of the evidence was determined on the basis of the methodological quality and consistency of the study results. For lifting, strong evidence was found that men have a higher risk of back complaints than women. The same was found for the relation between hand-arm vibration and neck-shoulder complaints. For arm posture, strong evidence was found that women have a higher risk of neck-shoulder complaints than men. For social support, no evidence of a gender difference was found for either neck-shoulder or back complaints. For hand-wrist and lower-extremity complaints, inconclusive evidence was found due to a lack of high-quality studies.

Risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders among nursing personnel in Greek hospitals.

To investigate the relationships between physical, psychosocial, and individual characteristics and different endpoints of musculoskeletal complaints of the lower back, neck and shoulders. In this cross-sectional study a questionnaire survey was carried out among 351 nursing personnel (response 84%) in six general hospitals in Athens, Greece. A questionnaire was used on physical and psychosocial workload, need for recovery, perceived general health and (1) the occurrence of musculoskeletal complaints in the past 12 months, (2) chronic complaints during at least 3 months, and (3) complaints which led to sickness absence. In logistic regression analysis odds ratios (ORs) were estimated for all relevant risk factors. Self-reported factors of physical load were associated with the occurrence of back pain (OR=1.85), neck pain (OR=1.88), and shoulder pain (OR=1.87) but these factors were not associated with chronic complaints and musculoskeletal sickness absence. Physical load showed a trend with the number of musculoskeletal complaints with ORs of 2.47 and 4.13 for two and three musculoskeletal complaints, respectively. No consistent influence of psychosocial factors on complaints, chronicity, or sickness absence was observed. A perceived moderate general health was also a risk factor, and strongest associations were observed for sickness absence due to back pain (OR=2.03), neck pain (OR=8.31), and shoulder pain (OR=6.84). The handling of physical loads among nurses seems to put them at risk for the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders. The development of these complaints into chronic complaints and associated sickness absence is strongly determined by perceived general health and almost not associated with work-related physical and psychosocial risk factors. When the influence of work-related risk factors on musculoskeletal health is being investigated, the general health status of individual workers should be taken into account.

Method for retrospective collection of work-related psychosocial risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders: Reliability and aggregation.

Information on psychosocial work conditions during a 24-year period for 484 participants was collected retrospectively. Analyses were made of the interrater reliability, stability, specificity, and aggregation of data. The main finding was that it is possible to collect reliable information about psychosocial work conditions retrospectively for a long period of years when using a time ruler in a structured interview when earlier conditions are compared with the present. Interrater agreement was satisfactory for the larger part of the studied retrospective psychosocial risk factors and excellent for some of them. For most of the studied risk factors, the risk of overreporting exposure was low. The aggregation of data resulted in 2 indexes: poor social relations at work and low influence over work conditions. In conclusion, an individual time ruler works satisfactorily as a method of collecting retrospective information about psychosocial risk factors.