Association Between Low Back Pain, Workaholism, and Work Engagement in Japanese Hospital Workers: A Quantitative Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between two types of heavy work investment, workaholism and work engagement, and low back pain prevalence.

Methods: We conducted a paper-based survey of Japanese hospital workers. The Dutch Workaholism Scale (DUWAS) and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) were used to classify the participants into four groups and perform multiple logistic regression analyses.

Results: Among 699 participants, the group with low DUWAS and high UWES at 37.1% had the lowest low back pain prevalence. In order, the groups with low DUWAS and UWES were at 51.7%; those with high DUWAS and UWES, 58.5%; and those with high DUWAS and low UWES, 62.4%, with multivariate-adjusted odds ratios of 1.77, 2.01, and 2.33, respectively.

Conclusions: Low back pain prevalence among Japanese hospital workers was reduced by high levels of work engagement, even at high levels of workaholism.