Correlates of coping among Filipino migrant workers in Malaysia with musculoskeletal pain

Abstract

Objective

Coping with musculoskeletal pain is associated with severe pain behavior. This study aims to determine the factors associated with coping among Filipino migrant workers in Malaysia with musculoskeletal pain.

Methods

Ninety Filipino migrant workers were purposively selected from a training school based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Participants were asked to answer the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) to identify body regions with musculoskeletal pain. Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ) - 24 was used to determine coping strategies and control over pain.

Results

Pain in shoulders (63.3%) and low back (55.6%) were common in the last 12 months. Participants use diversion (18.4 ± 9.8), cognitive coping (18.1 ± 10.1), and reinterpreting (13.7 ± 8.4) as their coping strategies, with a median control over pain of 3 (some control of pain). A statistically significant association is noted between cognitive coping, diversion, and reinterpreting coping strategies to control over pain (p value <0.05).

Conclusions

Participants who utilized diversion and cognitive coping strategies have better control over pain. Catastrophizing is significantly associated with complaints of pain on the elbow, wrist/hand, low back, and hips/ thigh in the past 12 months. Diversion is associated with pain on neck, shoulder, elbow, upper back, hips/thigh, and ankle/feet while catastrophizing is associated for pain in the elbow, wrist/hand, and low back that is present in the last 7 days. Education about positive coping such as cognitive coping, diversion, and reinterpreting as well as recognition about musculoskeletal disorders is recommended.

Keywords:

• Coping
• coping strategies
• musculoskeletal pain
• Filipino migrant workers
• Malaysia

Disclosure statement

The author declares no conflict of interest at any point during the conduct of this research.