Job Strain and Neck-Shoulder Symptoms: A Prevalence Study of Women and Men White-Collar Workers

Details

• Personal Author:
  Brisson C ; Leroux I ; Montreuil S
• Description:
  Neck-shoulder symptoms are frequent among workers. Psychosocial factors at work have been associated with neck-shoulder symptoms, but few studies have examined job strain, the combined effect of high psychological demands (PD) and low decision latitude (DL). To examine the association between psychosocial factors at work and the prevalence of self-reported neck-shoulder symptoms among white-collar workers. In a cross-sectional study of 1543 white-collar workers, PD and DL at work were measured with Karasek's questionnaire. Prevalent cases were workers for whom neck-shoulder symptoms were present for >or=3 days during the previous 7 days and for whom pain intensity was greater than half the visual analogue scale. Gender and social support at work were evaluated as potential effect modifiers. Workers exposed to high job strain had a higher prevalence of neck-shoulder symptoms [adjusted prevalence ratio (PR): 1.54, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00-2.37]. No modifying effect of gender was observed in this association. The effect of job strain was stronger in workers with low social support (adjusted PR: 1.84, 95% CI: 0.92-3.68). These associations tended to be stronger and/or more precise when using alternative exposures and case definition. Namely, a stronger job strain effect was observed when a tertile cut-off was used to classify exposure (adjusted PR: 2.47, 95% CI: 1.15-5.32). These results suggest that primary prevention of neck-shoulder symptoms among white-collar workers should consider the exposure to job strain, especially when workers are exposed to low social support at work. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Demography Men Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety Sex Characteristics Stress, Psychological Women
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Neck Pain Demographic Characteristics Job Analysis Job Stress Neck Injuries Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Occupational Medicine Psychosocial Factors Sex Factors Stress Work Worker Health Workers Workload

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• ISSN:
  0962-7480
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  102-109
• Volume:
  56
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20030982
• Citation:
  Occup Med 2006 Mar; 56(2):102-109
• Contact Point Address:
  Isabelle Leroux, Unite de recherche en sante des populations, Centre hospitalier affilie universitaire de Quebec, 1050 chemin Sainte-Foy, Quebec, G1S 4L8, Canada
• Email:
  ileroux@uresp.ulaval.ca
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2006
• Performing Organization:
  University of Quebec
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20020930
• Source Full Name:
  Occupational Medicine
• End Date:
  20060929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e706b5e3737add91e478b333f7695f7177d0e3c4f3f0e0e997449c7f95658b47ce1445d6fee7a55b5191ae3e7139aa805e9138ecb2dcac23d51369edd8990277
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/191392/cdc_191392_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 113.22 KB ]