Developmental trajectories of multisite musculoskeletal pain and depressive symptoms: The effects of job demands and resources and individual factors

Abstract

Objective: To investigate developmental paths in multisite musculoskeletal pain (MPS) and depressive symptoms (DPS) and the effects of job demands (JD), job resources (JR), optimism and health-related lifestyle on these paths. We expected to find four trajectories – Low Symptoms, High Pain, High Depression and High Symptoms – and hypothesised that high JDs, low JRs, low optimism and adverse lifestyle predict belonging to trajectories with high symptom levels.

Design: Data on Finnish firefighters (N = 360) were collected in 1996, 1999 and 2009. The effects of JDs (mental and physical workload), JRs (supervisory relations, interpersonal relations, task resources), optimism and lifestyle (alcohol consumption, smoking, physical exercise, sleeping) on MPS and DPS were assessed. Latent class growth modelling and multinomial logistic regression were applied.

Results: Three trajectories emerged: Low Symptoms; High Pain; and High Depression. In a multivariable model, high mental workload (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.5–5.5), poor interpersonal relations (2.6, 1.4–5.0), sleeping problems (2.7, 1.4–5.2) and low optimism (2.0, 1.0–3.7) predicted belonging to High Depression. Alcohol consumption (2.4, 1.4–4.1) and sleeping problems (2.1, 1.3–3.6) were related to High Pain.

Conclusions: Different developmental paths in MPS and DPS are possible. Partly different factors predict the development of pain and depressive symptoms.

Keywords:

• depressive symptoms
• pain
• job demands
• job resources
• personal resources
• firefighters

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from the Fire Protection Fund, Finland, and the Emergency Services College, Kuopio, Finland.