Work-life conflict and musculoskeletal disorders: a cross-sectional study of an unexplored association

Abstract

BackgroundThe health consequences of work-family or rather work-life conflict (WLC) have been studied by numerous researchers. The work-related causes of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are also well explored. And stress (at work) has been found to be a consequence of WLC as well as a cause of MSD. But very little is known about a potential association between WLC and MSD and the possible mediating role of stress in this relationship.MethodsSurvey data collected in 2007 among the workforces of four large companies in Switzerland were used for this study. The study population covered 6091 employees. As the exposure variable and hypothesized risk factor for MSD, WLC was measured by using a 10-item scale based on an established 18-item scale on work-family conflict. The outcome variables used as indicators of MSD were (low) back pain and neck/shoulder pain. Stress as the assumed intervening variable was assessed by a validated single-item measure of general stress perception. Correlation coefficients (r), standardized regression coefficients (β) and multiple adjusted odds ratios (OR) were calculated as measures of association.ResultsWLC was found to be quite strongly associated with MSD (β = .21). This association turned out to be substantially confounded by physical strain at work, workload and job autonomy and was considerably reduced but far from being completely eliminated after adjusting for general stress as another identified risk factor of MSD and a proven strong correlate of WLC (r = .44). A significant and relevant association still remained (β = .10) after having controlled for all considered covariates. This association could be fully attributed to only one direction of WLC, namely the work-to-life conflict. In subsequent analyses, a clear gradient between this WLC direction and both types of MSD was found, and proved to be consistent for both men and women. Employees who were most exposed to such work-to-life conflict were also most at risk and showed a fivefold higher prevalence rate (19%-42%) and also an up to sixfold increased relative risk (OR = 3.8-6.3) of suffering greatly from these types of MSD compared with the least exposed reference group showing very low WLC in this direction. Including stress in the regression models again reduced the strength of the association significantly (OR = 1.9-4.1), giving an indication for a possible indirect effect of WLC on MSD mediated by stress.ConclusionFuture research and workplace interventions for the prevention of MSD need to consider WLC as an important stressor, and the MSD risk factor identified in this study.

Work-privacy conflict and musculoskeletal pain: a population-based test of a stress-sleep-mediation model

“…Confirming Hypothesis 1, WPC was positively related to MSP. This result is in line with studies showing that physical and psychosocial work characteristics are likely to enhance MSP (McBeth & Jones, 2007), and it confirms previous findings (Hämmig et al, 2011) showing that Swiss employees with high WPC had the highest risk for pain in the back, shoulder and neck. The relations between WPC and MSP in the current study were moderate or even high -which is surprising because many other risk factors are also known to be involved (Elfering & Mannion, 2008).…”

“…In sum, the current conceptual model is based on an integration of two previously conceptualised and confirmed models: (1) the basic model of Hämmig, Knecht, Läubli, and Bauer (2011) who suggested stress mediates the effects of WPC on MSP (solid lines in Figure 1), and (2) the conceptual model postulating sleep complaints mediate the effects of work stressors on health (dashed lines in Figure 1, e.g. Elfering, Pereira, Grebner, & Müller, 2015;Yang & Park, 2015).…”

Association between work–family conflict and musculoskeletal pain among hospital patient care workers

“…In two studies, Hammig and colleagues investigated the association between work-family conflict and musculoskeletal pain [Hammig and Bauer 2009, Hammig, et al 2011]. They found an association between high work-family conflict and self-reported neck/shoulder pain and back pain among workers across four different industries including the healthcare sector [Hammig, et al 2011]. However, this study did not adjust for working conditions such as night shift work and number of work hours.…”

Topics and trends in research on non-clinical interventions aimed at preventing prolonged work disability in workers compensated for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs): a systematic, comprehensive literature review

“…Although multiple predictors are tested in the literature in order to link them to the different stages of disability and RTW status [14,120,[122][123][124][125][126][127][128], little information is provided on the characteristics of interventions likely to prevent the development of prolonged disability or RTW in ''good health'' [129]. There appears to be a growing consensus that psychological (distress, depression, readiness to change) and ergonomic workplace factors (work support, work satisfaction) are predictors of RTW outcomes and play an important role in early psychosocial intervention [98,130,131]. Some recent predictive RTW models include mainly psychological work-related and ergonomic factors that appear to have a protective effect and promote participants' RTW [132,133].…”