Is there a gender difference in the effect of work-related physical and psychosocial risk factors on musculoskeletal symptoms and related sickness absence?
article
Determine whether there are gender differences in the effect of exposure to work-related physical and psychosocial risk factors on low back, neck, shoulder, or hand–arm symptoms and related sickness absence was the objective. Data of a prospective cohort with a follow-up period of three years were used. Questionnaires were used to assess exposure to risk factors and musculoskeletal symptoms. Sickness absence was registered. Female- to-male gender ratios (GR) were calculated to determine whether there were any differences in the effect. A GR value >1.33 or <0.75 was regarded as relevant. Except for the effect of bending the wrist and the neck backwards (GR 1.52–2.55), men generally had a higher risk of symptoms (GR range 0.50–0.68) with equal exposure. For sickness absence, a GR value of >1.33 was found for twisting the upper body, working in uncomfortable postures, twisting the wrist, bending the neck backwards, and coworker and supervisor support (GR range 1.66–2.63). For driving vehicles, hand–arm vibration, squeezing, working above shoulder level or below knee level, reaching, twisting the neck, job demands, and skill discretion, the GR value was <0.75. For job satisfaction, a GR value of 0.50 was found for absence due to back symptoms, while the GR value was 1.78 for sickness absence due to neck, shoulder, or hand–arm symptoms. Although women are expected to be more vulnerable to exposure to work-related risk factors, this study shows that men are.. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
TNO Identifier
160029
Source
Scandinavian journal of work, environment and health, 35(2), pp. 85-95.
Pages
85-95