Socioeconomic position and variations in coping strategies in musculoskeletal pain: a cross-sectional study of 1,287 40- and 50-year-old men and women.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between socioeconomic position and coping strategies in musculoskeletal pain.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of a random sample of 40- and 50-year-old Danes, participation rate 69%, n=7,125. The study included 1,287 persons who reported functional limitations due to musculoskeletal pain.


METHODS
Data was collected by postal questionnaires and scales were developed on problem-solving coping and avoidant coping, based on a range of preliminary studies. Multivariate logistic regression analyses was used to study the correlation with socioeconomic position, measured by occupational social class.


RESULTS
Among women, there was no correlation between social class and avoidant coping, but a significant decrease in the use of problem-solving coping by decreasing social class, adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.64 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.31-5.32) in social class V vs social classes I + II. Among men, there was no correlation between social class and problem-solving coping, but a significant increase in the use of avoidant coping with decreasing social class, adjusted OR = 3.31 (95% CI 1.75-6.25) in V vs I + II.


CONCLUSIONS
It is important for clinicians who advise and support patients in their response to musculoskeletal pain to be aware of socioeconomic differences in coping strategies. Gender differences in the association between socioeconomic factors and coping should be further investigated.
Christensen
Ulla
U
Department of Social Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Institute of Public Health, Copenhagen, Denmark. U.Christensen@socmed.ku.dk
Schmidt
Lone
L
Hougaard
Charlotte Ørsted
CØ
Kriegbaum
Margit
M
Holstein
Bjørn Evald
BE
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011340:Problem Solving; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires