Workplace Stressors and Musculoskeletal Symptoms: Examining the Combined Impact of Ergonomic and Work Organization Factors
Abstract
Work-related musculoskeletal symptoms are a significant public health challenge that have been associated with ergonomic and occupational psychosocial (i.e., work organization) factors. However, research still needs to delineate the specific dimensions of work organization that pose risks to workers. It is also unclear whether workplace physical and psychosocial stressors have a combined effect for these symptoms. Individuals (g = 289) from a population (U.S. Marines Corps) known to have a high rate of clinic visits associated with low back and upper extremity disorders were given a questionnaire containing items on demographics, health behaviors, level of physical exertion at work, family and life stressors, ergonomic factors, and work organization. After identifying specific work organization variables related to scheduling, job design, management sty le, career concerns, organizational characteristics, and interpersonal factors, logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine risks for low back symptoms only, upper extremity (UE) symptoms only, or concurrent low back and upper extremity symptoms.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 10, 2001
- Accession Number
- AD1012401
Entities
People
- Grant D. Huang
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences