Stressful psychosocial work environment increases risk for back pain among retail material handlers.
BACKGROUND
Back pain is a major source of lost work time. Occupational physical activity only accounts for a fraction of low back pain; therefore, there is growing interest in investigating other possible causes of back pain including the psychosocial work environment.


METHODS
Material handlers (N = 6,311) in 160 newly opened stores were interviewed at study entry and approximately 6 months later. Factor analysis was used to reduce the 37 psychosocial questionnaire items to seven distinct factors.


RESULTS
After adjusting for history of back problems and work-related lifting, risk of back pain was moderately increased among employees who reported high job intensity demands (odds ratio (OR) = 1.8), job dissatisfaction (OR = 1.7), and high job scheduling demands (OR = 1.6).


CONCLUSIONS
Modification of the psychosocial work environment for material handlers in large retail stores may help reduce back pain among employees.
Johnston
Janet M
JM
Epidemiology Data Center, University of Pittsburgh, GSPH, 127 Parran Hall, 130 DeSoto St., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA. Johnston@edc.gsph.pitt,edu
Landsittel
Douglas P
DP
Nelson
Nancy A
NA
Gardner
Lytt I
LI
Wassell
James T
JT
D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010379:Peer Group; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016526:Workload; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology