Psychosocial Stress After a Disaster and Low Back Pain-Related Interference With Daily Living Among College Students: A Cohort Study in Fukushima.
METHODS
A cohort study.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between psychosocial stress and low back pain (LBP)-related interference with daily living among college students.


BACKGROUND
Few longitudinal studies have examined the likelihood of developing LBP in the presence of a designated psychosocial stressor. All participants in the present study were suddenly affected by the Great East Japan disaster after enrolment in our cohort study.


METHODS
The present study was initiated among 95 students at Fukushima Medical University in January 2011. We assessed psychosocial stress in students using the Japanese version of the Perceived Stress Scale (JPSS). Follow-up surveys were conducted in July 2011 and May 2013, analyzing 94 students. Students were then divided into three groups (improved, -19 to -4; Maintained, -3 to +4; Aggravated, +5 to +22) based on the tertile points of JPSS change from baseline to 4 months after the disaster. LBP-related interference with daily living was assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) questionnaire. Linear regression modeling was performed with BPI at 4 months after the disaster as the outcome, and JPSS change, sex, history of LBP, baseline physical activity, and baseline BPI as explanatory variables.


RESULTS
We found a significant increase in BPI score for the aggravated stress group (β coefficient, +0.79; 95% confidence interval, +0.06-+1.53), compared with the improved stress group. History of LBP and higher physical activity were also significantly associated with BPI.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study suggests that perceived psychosocial stress induced by the disaster may be associated with LBP-related interference with daily living among college students in Fukushima.


METHODS
3.
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan.
Kinshi
K
Kato
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan.
Miho
M
Sekiguchi
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan.
Takuya
T
Nikaido
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan.
Ken-Ichi
KI
Otoshi
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan.
Yohei
Y
Matsuo
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan.
Takahiro
T
Igari
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan.
Yoshihiro
Y
Kobayashi
Department of Healthcare Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.|Department of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiologic Informatics, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Japan.
Misa
M
Takegami
Department of Healthcare Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Norio
N
Fukumori
Department of Healthcare Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.|Center for Innovative Research for Communities and Clinical Excellence, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan.
Shingo
S
Fukuma
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan.
Shin-Ichi
SI
Kikuchi
Department of Healthcare Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.|Center for Innovative Research for Communities and Clinical Excellence, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan.
Shun-Ichi
SI
Fukuhara
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan.
Shin-Ichi
SI
Konno
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D062406:Fukushima Nuclear Accident; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires