Association among Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders, Job Stress, and Job Attitude of Occupational Therapists

Occup Ther Health Care. 2017 Jan;31(1):34-43. doi: 10.1080/07380577.2016.1270482. Epub 2017 Jan 17.

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the associations among work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), job stress, and job attitude of occupational therapists in South Korea. Self-reporting questionnaires were distributed to 150 occupational therapists. Of the 128 occupational therapists who responded, 110 (85.9%) reported WMSDs affecting at least one body site. The most affected WMSDs site was the low back (26.8%), and the most reported number of body site affected by WMSDs was one (53.9%). As a result, there were significant differences in job stress and job attitude depending on the age, work experience, working hour, presence or absence of WMSDs, and number of site of pain. Factors influencing job attitude included job stress, the presence or absence of WMSDs and duration of pain. The results showed that the occurrence of WMSDs in occupational therapists was associated with increased job stress and negative job attitude.

Keywords: Job attitude; job stress; occupational therapist; work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Attitude of Health Personnel
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Job Satisfaction*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Musculoskeletal Diseases / etiology*
  • Occupational Diseases / complications*
  • Occupational Therapists / psychology*
  • Physical Therapy Specialty
  • Republic of Korea
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult