Elevated burnout predicts the onset of musculoskeletal pain among apparently healthy employees.

Abstract

Musculoskeletal (MS) pain is highly prevalent in the working population, often resulting in chronic disability. Burnout represents accumulated exposure to work-related stresses and therefore could predict the incidence of MS pain. We investigated prospectively the extent to which changes in the levels of burnout over time predict new cases of MS pain. Participants were 1,704 apparently healthy employed men and women who underwent periodic health examination at three points of time (T1, T2, and T3), over a period of about three years. We used the T1 to T2 changes in the levels of burnout, depressive symptoms, and anxiety to predict the onset of new cases of MS pain between T2 and T3, while controlling for possible confounders. Logistic regression results indicated that the T1-T2 change in burnout levels was associated with a 2.09-fold increased risk of MS pain (95% confidence interval ϭ 1. 07-4.10). No support was found for the possibility of reverse causation; that is, that MS pain predicts subsequent elevations of burnout levels. It was concluded that burnout might be a risk factor in the development of MS pain in apparently healthy individuals.

Exploring demands from the perspective of employees identified as being at risk of burnout

“…Thuynsma and De Beer (2016) also found depressive symptoms and satisfaction with life (together with job demands) to explain significant amounts of variance in the burnout construct. Burnout has been demonstrated to also lead to poor physical health, including sleep disturbances, headaches, respiratory infections, and gastrointestinal infections (Kim, Ji, & Kao, 2011), as well as musculoskeletal problems (Armon, Melamed, Shirom, & Shapira, 2010). Kivimäki and Kawachi (2015) reported in a review of evidence from 27 cohort studies, of more than 600,000 individuals, that work stressors such as job strain and long working hours are associated with a moderately elevated risk of incident coronary heart disease and stroke.…”

Occupational Burnout and Severe Injuries: An Eight‐year Prospective Cohort Study among Finnish Forest Industry Workers

“…Burnout can have adverse consequences regarding health and work ability. In prospective designs, burnout has predicted coronary heart disease 11) , type 2 diabetes 12) , common infections 13) , musculoskeletal pain 14) and depressive symptoms 15) . In addition, burnout has predicted sickness absences 16) and disability pensions 17) .…”

Musculoskeletal Pain and Mental Agony Reacting to Ergonomic Risks in the Thai Informal Working Environment

“…In other words, burnout represents accumulated exposure to stresses (Armon et al, 2010). These may be supported by the notion of Thinkhamrop and Laohasiriwong (2015) in that anxiety and stress lead to sleep deprivation and loss of physical and psychological energy due to a sleep deprivation may result in the occurrence of burnout.…”

“…Professional completion is a development of feeling of unhappy about oneself and dissatisfied with job accomplishment. Armon, Melamed, Shirom, and Shapira (2010) and Gholami et al (2016) supported that burnout represents accumulated exposure to work-related stresses. Anxiety is a common mental problem which is often resulted in burnout burdens.…”