TY - JOUR
T1 - High physical and psychosocial load at work and sickness absence due to neck pain
AU - Ariëns, Geertje A M
AU - Bongers, Paulien M
AU - Hoogendoorn, Wilhelmina E
AU - van der Wal, Gerrit
AU - van Mechelen, Willem
PY - 2002/8
Y1 - 2002/8
N2 - OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the relationship between physical and psychosocial load at work and sickness absence due to neck pain.METHODS: A prospective cohort study with a follow-up period of 3 years (1994-1998) was performed among a working population. At the beginning of the study, physical load at work was quantified by means of video recordings. Work-related psychosocial variables were measured by means of the Job Content Questionnaire. The frequency of sickness absence due to neck pain with a minimal duration of 3 days was assessed on the basis of company registrations during the follow-up period. Altogether 758 workers were included in the analyses. Possible confounding by individual characteristics, physical load, and psychosocial load was studied.RESULTS: Work-related neck flexion and neck rotation, low decision authority, and medium skill discretion showed statistically significant increased risks for sickness absence due to neck pain (adjusted rate ratios ranging from 1.6 to 4.2). High quantitative job demands, low skill discretion, and low job security showed nonsignificant increased risks for sickness absence due to neck pain (adjusted rate ratios of 2.0, 1.6 and 1.7, respectively). Work-related sitting, conflicting job demands, supervisor support, and co-worker support did not increase sickness absence due to neck pain.CONCLUSION: Work-related neck flexion, neck rotation, low decision authority, and medium skill discretion are risk factors for sickness absence due to neck pain. There are indications that high job demands, low skill discretion, and low job security are also risk factors for sickness absence due to neck pain.
AB - OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the relationship between physical and psychosocial load at work and sickness absence due to neck pain.METHODS: A prospective cohort study with a follow-up period of 3 years (1994-1998) was performed among a working population. At the beginning of the study, physical load at work was quantified by means of video recordings. Work-related psychosocial variables were measured by means of the Job Content Questionnaire. The frequency of sickness absence due to neck pain with a minimal duration of 3 days was assessed on the basis of company registrations during the follow-up period. Altogether 758 workers were included in the analyses. Possible confounding by individual characteristics, physical load, and psychosocial load was studied.RESULTS: Work-related neck flexion and neck rotation, low decision authority, and medium skill discretion showed statistically significant increased risks for sickness absence due to neck pain (adjusted rate ratios ranging from 1.6 to 4.2). High quantitative job demands, low skill discretion, and low job security showed nonsignificant increased risks for sickness absence due to neck pain (adjusted rate ratios of 2.0, 1.6 and 1.7, respectively). Work-related sitting, conflicting job demands, supervisor support, and co-worker support did not increase sickness absence due to neck pain.CONCLUSION: Work-related neck flexion, neck rotation, low decision authority, and medium skill discretion are risk factors for sickness absence due to neck pain. There are indications that high job demands, low skill discretion, and low job security are also risk factors for sickness absence due to neck pain.
KW - Confounding Factors (Epidemiology)
KW - Humans
KW - Job Satisfaction
KW - Neck Pain/epidemiology
KW - Netherlands/epidemiology
KW - Occupational Diseases/epidemiology
KW - Risk Factors
KW - Sick Leave
KW - Stress, Psychological/epidemiology
KW - Surveys and Questionnaires
KW - Workload
M3 - Article
C2 - 12199423
VL - 28
SP - 222
EP - 231
JO - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health
JF - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health
SN - 0355-3140
IS - 4
ER -