A prospective study of musculoskeletal outcomes among manufacturing workers: II. Effects of psychosocial stress and work organization factors

Details

• Personal Author:
  Anton D ; Fethke N ; Gerr F ; Jones MP ; Marcus M ; Merlino L ; Rosecrance J
• Description:
  Objective: The aim of this study was to characterize associations between psychosocial and work organizational risk factors and upper-extremity musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders. Background: Methodological limitations of previous studies of psychosocial and work organizational risk factors and musculoskeletal outcomes have produced inconsistent associations. Method: In this prospective epidemiologic study of 386 workers, questionnaires to assess decision latitude ("control") and psychological job demands ("demand") were administered to study participants and were used to classify them into job strain "quadrants." Measures of job stress and job change were collected during each week of follow-up. Incident hand/arm and neck/shoulder symptoms and disorders were ascertained weekly. Associations between exposure measures and musculoskeletal outcomes were estimated with proportional hazard methods. Results: When compared to the low-demand/high-control job strain referent category, large increases in risk of hand/arm disorders were observed for both high-demand/high- control (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.23, 16.4]) and high-demand/low-control job strain categories (HR = 5.18, 95% CI = [1.39, 19.4]). Similar associations were observed for hand/arm symptoms. A strong association was also observed between the low-demand/low-control job strain category and neck/shoulder disorders (HR = 6.46, 95% CI = [1.46, 28.6]). Statistically significant associations were also observed between weekly stress level and weekly job change and several musculoskeletal outcomes. Conclusion: Associations between psychosocial risk factors and work organizational factors and musculoskeletal outcomes were large and in the hypothesized direction. Application: Prevention of occupational musculoskeletal disorders may require attention to psychosocial and work organizational factors in addition to physical factors. Methods to control adverse effects of psychosocial and work organizational risk factors should be explored. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Environmental Exposure Epidemiology Men Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Surveys And Questionnaires Women

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• Keywords:
  Analytical Processes Author Keywords: Psychosocial Exposure Levels Humans Musculoskeletal Disorder Musculoskeletal System Musculoskeletal System Disorders Physical Capacity Physiological Effects Physiology Posture Prospective Study Questionnaires Repetitive Work Risk Factors Statistical Analysis Time Weighted Average Exposure Workers Work Organization

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• ISSN:
  0018-7208
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; Georgia ; Iowa ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 7 ; OSHA Region 8 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  178-190
• Volume:
  56
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20042918
• Citation:
  Hum Factors 2014 Feb; 56(1):178-190
• Contact Point Address:
  Fred Gerr, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 105 River Street, CPHB S322, Iowa City, IA 52242
• Email:
  fred-gerr@uiowa.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2014
• Performing Organization:
  University of Iowa - Iowa City
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20030901
• Source Full Name:
  Human Factors
• End Date:
  20080831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:abc5a69f54444572cd80616ba6df247427f38e40019549caa5843fc3660a58fc628d2dfde1875bbcfedb3be101db3398506da5c806e9a9f5556c1d1563571752
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/194984/cdc_194984_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 378.49 KB ]