Office Work and Complaints of the Arms, Neck and Shoulders: The Role of Job Characteristics, Muscular Tension and Need for Recovery

[Abstract]: [Objectives]: This study investigated physical, psychological and social job characteristics as potential risk factors for complaints of the arms, neck and shoulders (CANS) and mediating effects of muscular tension and need for recovery. [Methods]: Data were collected among 105 computer...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Occupational Health 2012-07, Vol.54 (4), p.323-330
Main Authors: Gawke, Jason C., Gorgievski, Marjan J., Linden, Dimitri
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arm
Electromyography
Humans
Job design
Muscle tension
Muscle Tonus - physiology
Musculoskeletal disorders
Neck Pain
Need for recovery
Occupational Diseases - epidemiology
Occupational Diseases - physiopathology
Occupational Health
Pain - epidemiology
Pain - physiopathology
Pain - psychology
Risk Factors
Shoulder Pain
Social Support
Stress, Psychological - epidemiology
Upper extremity
Workload - psychology
Workplace
Workplace - psychology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:[Abstract]: [Objectives]: This study investigated physical, psychological and social job characteristics as potential risk factors for complaints of the arms, neck and shoulders (CANS) and mediating effects of muscular tension and need for recovery. [Methods]: Data were collected among 105 computer workers using questionnaires and electromyography (EMG), and were analyzed with linear regression analyses. [Results]: Task interdependence, information processing and lower social support predicted more CANS. Physical job demands had no predictive power over and above psychological and social stressors. Both muscular tension and need for recovery partially mediated the job characteristics ― CANS relationships. [Conclusions]: Occupational health professionals should not neglect psychological and social job characteristics as potentially important predictors of CANS in specific occupational groups, such as office workers. Our findings imply that CANS interventions should not be restricted to ergonomic improvements, but should be accompanied by improvement of the job design from a psychological and social perspective and reactive intervention aimed at decreasing short-term physical strain (muscular tension) and mental strain (need for recovery).
ISSN:1341-9145
1348-9585
1348-9585
DOI:10.1539/joh.11-0152-OA