Low back pain psychosocial risk factors

Abstract

Introduction: Low back pain is currently a major health problem for the western societies as it usually leads to inability to work, use of health services and sick leaves. Psychosocial work characteristics are considered possible risk factors for the development of low back pain. Objectives: Aim of the present study was to reveal, based on the employee's self report, possible relation between psychosocial work factors and low back pain presence. Subjects and Methods: Three hundred and sixty five office employees (civil servants) was the sample for this descriptive study in which relations and frequencies of psychosocial characteristics and low back pain were examined via the modified Michigan questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS for Windows (version 11.5). Results: Completed questionnaires were obtained from 294 employees, 22% of who (66) were male and 78% (228) female. University graduates were 77% (199) of the responders, 1% (2) were University and Technological Institution graduates, 5% (14) were Technological Institution graduates, 17% (43) were High School graduates, only one person had completed the third class of secondary education and only one person the primary education. A percentage of 19% (57) of the responders related the presence of low back pain with their occupation, whereas 81% (238) not. A percentage of 56% (151) were sufficiently satisfied from their occupation, 6% (15) not at all, 23% (63) a little, and 15% (41) a lot. The persons of the subgroup a little-not at all-sufficiently experiencing low back pain were more than those without pain (p=0.006). A percentage of 45% (132) replied that their occupation demands to be creative, whereas 55% (163) replied the opposite. No statistically significant difference was found regarding the presence of low back pain between the two groups (p=0.77). 229 responders (78%) recognized that their work does not have the quality which they excepted when they first started, while 66 (22%) replied the opposite. 130 employees from the 229 reported low back pain while 99 not, and 27 employees from the 66 reported pain while 39 not (p=0.02). As regards the frequency that the responders had been angry because of things happening out of their control in work, 48% of the 273 employees had been sometimes, 18% almost never, 15% frequently, 12% never and 7% very often. The persons of the subgroup frequently-very often who experienced pain were more than those of the subgroup never-almost never-sometimes (p=0.002). Sixty six percent (66%) of the responders replied that they were not in danger of losing their job, whereas 34% had the fear of release. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding the presence of low back pain (p=0.94). 114 responders replied that during the previous month they had felt anxiety and stress sometimes, whereas just 9 persons never. No statistically significant difference was found regarding the presence of low back pain between the two groups (p=0.20). Conclusion: The results of the present study demonstrate that work quality, work satisfaction and work related anger are related to the presence of low back pain.