Workplace psychosocial and organizational factors for neck pain in workers in the United States

Am J Ind Med. 2016 Jul;59(7):549-60. doi: 10.1002/ajim.22602. Epub 2016 May 17.

Abstract

Background: Neck pain is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition among workers in the United States. This study explores a set of workplace psychosocial and organization-related factors for neck pain.

Methods: Data used for this study come from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey which provides a representative sample of the US population. To account for the complex sampling design, the Taylor linearized variance estimation method was used. Logistic regression models were constructed to measure the associations.

Results: This study demonstrated significant associations between neck pain and a set of workplace risk factors, including work-family imbalance, exposure to a hostile work environment and job insecurity, non-standard work arrangements, multiple jobs, and long work hours.

Conclusion: Workers with neck pain may benefit from intervention programs that address issues related to these workplace risk factors. Future studies exploring both psychosocial risk factors and physical risk factors with a longitudinal design will be important. Am. J. Ind. Med. 59:549-560, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Keywords: epidemiology; neck pain; occupational health; psychosocial risk factors; work organization.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neck Pain / etiology
  • Neck Pain / psychology*
  • Occupational Diseases / etiology
  • Occupational Diseases / psychology*
  • Occupational Health
  • Occupations
  • Risk Factors
  • United States
  • Work-Life Balance
  • Workload
  • Workplace / organization & administration
  • Workplace / psychology*
  • Young Adult