Work-related psychosocial factors and chronic pain: a prospective cohort study in Canadian workers.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether organizational and psychosocial aspects of work experience affect the risk of chronic pain conditions.


METHODS
We used longitudinal data from the National Population Health Survey in Canada (n = 6571). The data were analyzed using the Cox model.


RESULTS
Work-related stress was a risk factor for developing chronic pain or discomfort. The relative risk was 1.39 (95% CI = 1.01-1.91) for medium stress and 1.80 (95% CI = 1.28-2.52) for high stress. High psychological demands and low skill discretion were independently associated with pain/discomfort. There was no association between psychosocial factors at work and physician-diagnosed chronic back problems, arthritis, or migraine headaches.


CONCLUSIONS
Work-related stress is a significant risk factor for nonspecific complaints of pain or discomfort among workers.
Kopec
Jacek A
JA
Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. jkopec@arthritisresearch.ca
Sayre
Eric C
EC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001168:Arthritis / Q000453:epidemiology; D001416:Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology