Temporal relationships between job strain and low-back pain

Abstract

Temporal relationships between job strain and low-back pain by Magnusson Hanson LL, Madsen IEH, Rugulies R, Peristera P, Westerlund H, Descatha A To our knowledge this is one of the first studies to examine reciprocal relationships between job strain and back pain and which accounts for time-invariant characteristics. The study highlights a need for more work to establish if there are bidirectional relationships, with more frequent repeat measurements and which account for time-stable individual factors. Original article Scand J Work Environ Health. 2017;43(5):396-404. doi:10.5271/sjweh.3654 Temporal relationships between job strain and low-back pain Objectives Psychosocial working conditions are suggested risk factors for low-back pain, but it is unclear whether these associations are causal. The present study examined whether there are lagged and bidirectional associations between job strain and low-back pain and further controlled for unmeasured time-invariant confounding. Affiliation MethodsThe study was based on four biennial waves of data from the Swedish Longitudinal OccupationalSurvey of Health (SLOSH), including 3084 men and women. Cross-lagged analyses using structural equation modeling (SEM) were conducted on job strain, a combination of high job demands and low control, and any as well as low-back pain severity (how much any problems affected the respondents life). Analogous SEM (dynamic panel) models with fixed effects were also fitted to remove confounding from time-invariant factors (such as non-observed individual and environmental factors, eg, genetics, childhood conditions, personality).Results The SEM models indicated bidirectional associations between job strain and any back pain over a 2-year time lag (β=0.21 and 0.19, P<0.05), when adjusting for a range of covariates. Job strain was also associated with an increase in low-back pain severity and vice versa. However, the SEM models with fixed-effects showed no statistically significant lagged relationships between job strain and any or low-back pain severity (β=-0.05 and β=0.00, respectively).Conclusions This study suggests that associations between job strain and low-back pain with a lag of years may be due to residual confounding by time invariant characteristics. Further studies are, however, needed to elucidate short-term relationships.

Psychosocial risk factors for low back pain in US workers: Data from the 2002–2018 quality of work life survey

“…Substantial research evidence from northern European countries has demonstrated significant associations between job strain and back pain. A study based on the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH) indicated that job strain was associated with increased back pain severity 35 . A study of the Swiss working population based on the Fourth European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) reported that physical or psychological demanding jobs were associated with higher prevalence of back pain 36 .…”

Workplace Psychosocial Factors and Their Association With Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies

“…The other reasons for exclusion are reported within the PRISMA flow diagram (Figure 1). Following the fulltext screening, a total of 47 articles were included in the study, as shown in Figure 1 (Andersen et al, 2019;Bodin et al, 2018;Bovenzi, 2009Bovenzi, , 2015Bovenzi et al, 2015Bovenzi et al, , 2016Christensen et al, 2018;Christensen & Knardahl, 2010Clausen et al, 2013;Dragioti et al, 2019;Garg et al, 2012Garg et al, , 2014Gerr et al, 2014;Halonen et al, 2018Halonen et al, , 2019Harris et al, 2011;Herin et al, 2012Herin et al, , 2014Hooftman et al, 2009;Hush et al, 2009;Janssens et al, 2014;Jun et al, 2020;Kaaria et al, 2011;Lamy et al, 2014;Lapointe et al, 2009Lapointe et al, , 2013Larsman et al, 2011;Larsman & Hanse, 2009a, 2009Lu et al, 2014;Madsen et al, 2018; Magnusson Hanson et al, 2017;Matsudaira et al, 2012;Mierswa & Kellmann, 2017;Oakman et al, 2017;Plouvier et al, 2009;Prakash et al, 2017;…”

“…The other reasons for exclusion are reported within the PRISMA flow diagram (Figure 1). Following the full-text screening, a total of 47 articles were included in the study, as shown in Figure 1 (Andersen et al, 2019; Bodin et al, 2018; Bovenzi, 2009, 2015; Bovenzi et al, 2015, 2016; Christensen et al, 2018; Christensen & Knardahl, 2010, 2014; Clausen et al, 2013; Dragioti et al, 2019; Garg et al, 2012, 2014; Gerr et al, 2014; Halonen et al, 2018, 2019; Harris et al, 2011; Herin et al, 2012, 2014; Hooftman et al, 2009; Hush et al, 2009; Janssens et al, 2014; Jun et al, 2020; Kaaria et al, 2011; Lamy et al, 2014; Lapointe et al, 2009, 2013; Larsman et al, 2011; Larsman & Hanse, 2009a, 2009; Lu et al, 2014; Madsen et al, 2018; Magnusson Hanson et al, 2017; Matsudaira et al, 2012; Mierswa & Kellmann, 2017; Neupane & Nygard, 2017; Oakman et al, 2017; Plouvier et al, 2009; Prakash et al, 2017; Shahidi et al, 2015; Smith et al, 2009; Solidaki et al, 2013; Vandergrift et al, 2012; Van Nieuwenhuyse et al, 2013; Vargas-Prada et al, 2013, 2016; Wigaeus Tornqvist et al, 2009). Most studies were conducted in Europe ( n = 34, 72%), followed by the Americas ( n = 10, 21%) and Asia/Australia ( n = 3, 7%).…”

“…Although the links between workplace psychosocial factors and MSDs are well researched (Afsharian et al, 2023; Budnik et al, 2018; López-González et al, 2022; Taibi et al, 2021), knowledge gaps remain in relation to characteristics of the relationship. The causal direction of the relationship between MSDs and psychosocial factors in the workplace remains undecided (Åhlin et al, 2021; Magnusson Hanson et al, 2017). To address this gap within the literature, there has been a call to arms for more studies to employ a longitudinal study design to help infer the direction of this relationship (Lang et al, 2012).…”

Analytical strategies to determine whether job strain is an important risk factor for occurrence of low-back pain

“…In this issue of the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, Magnusson Hanson and colleagues address this topic with a novel approach by combining structural equation modelling (SEM) with a fixed-effects (FE) regression in a longitudinal study with four waves over a 6-year period (7).…”