Gender differences in work-related risk factors associated with low back symptoms

Abstract

The prevalence of low back symptoms (LBS) in many working populations is high and differences in prevalence between genders are inconsistent. However, gender-specific risk factors for LBS have seldom been examined. Hence, the aim of the present study was to indicate gender-specific LBS risk factors. A sample of 3003 people was interviewed by telephone to get information about current workplace exposure and LBS. The risk of LBS for the whole population increased with work in awkward/tiring positions (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.12–1.68) and very/extremely stressful jobs (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.05–2.03). None of the explanatory variables were significantly associated with LBS for males but working in awkward/tiring positions (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.04–2.20), dissatisfaction with contact and cooperation with management (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.02–2.78) and finding their job to be very/extremely stressful (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.46–3.52) were significantly associated with LBS for females. Interventions to reduce LBS in workplaces should focus on reducing working in awkward/tiring positions, improving contact and cooperation with management, and reducing stressful jobs, especially amongst females.

Practitioner Summary: Strategies to prevent or reduce LBS should focus on reducing exposure to awkward or tiring positions at work, improving contact and cooperation with management, and reducing stressful jobs, especially for females.

Keywords:

• back pain
• gender
• Nordic questionnaire
• organisational culture
• psychosocial factor

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge funding support from the Joint Research Portfolio of the Health Research Council, Accident Compensation Corporation, and Department of Labour (HRC 04/072) of New Zealand. We thank Tracey Whaanga, Zoe Harding, Cecil Priest, Penelope Whitson, Michaela Skelly, Phoebe Taptiklis, Emma Drummond, Anna McCarty, Natasha Holland, Kelly Gray, Adam Hoskins, Alister Thomson, Jessica Fargher, Cilla Blackwell, Emma Turner, Selena Richards, Kim Crothall, Alice Harding, Joelene Wilkie, Joanne Dow, and Tania McKenzie who conducted the interviews, and Rebecca Jones, Alice Harding, Zoe Harding, Alister Thomson, Chani Tromop van Dalen, Jessica Fargher, Cecil Priest, and Miria Hudson who completed the data entry.