Psychosocial work characteristics and psychological strain in relation to low-back pain

Objectives This study investigated the relationship between psychosocial wo rk characteristics and low-back pain and the potential intermediate role of psychological strain variables in this relationship. Methods The research was part of a prospective cohort study of risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms. The study population consisted of 861 worker s from 34 companies in The Netherlands who had no low-back pain at baseline and for whom data on the occurrence of low-back pain were obtained with an nual questionnaires during a 3-year follow-up period. Information on psycho social work characteristics and psychological strain variables was collecte d using a questionnaire at baseline. Cases of low-back pain were defined as workers who reported, in at least one of the annual follow-up questionnair es, that they had had regular or prolonged low-back pain in the previous 12 months. Results After adjustment for individual factors and quantified physical loa d at work, nonsignificant relative risks ranging from 1.3 to 1.6 were obser ved for high quantitative job demands, high conflicting demands, low superv isory support, and low co-worker support. Decision authority and skill disc retion showed no relationship with low-back pain. In general, the estimated relative risks for the psychosocial work characteristics were scarcely inf luenced by additional adjustment for job satisfaction, emotional exhaustion , and sleeping difficulties. Conclusions It can be concluded that low social support, from either superv isors or co-workers, appears to be a risk factor for low-back pain. Some in dications of a relationship between high quantitative job demands and high conflicting demands and low-back pain were also found. Little evidence was found for an intermediate role for the psychological strain variables under study.