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Associations between Job Stress and Work-related Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Street Sanitation Workers

Article information

Res Community Public Health Nurs. 2013;24(3):314-322
Publication date (electronic) : 2013 September 30
doi : https://doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2013.24.3.314
Hye-Jin Kim1, Kyung-Ja June2, Gyeyoung Shin3, Jina Choo1
1College of Nursing, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
2Department of Nursing, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Korea.
3Department of Nursing, Shinheung College, Uijeongbu, Korea.
Corresponding author: Choo, Jina. College of Nursing, Korea University, Anam-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-705, Korea. Tel: +82-2-3290-4925, Fax: +82-2-928-9107, jinachoo@gmail.com
Received 2013 January 08; Accepted 2013 September 12.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to examine associations between job stress and work-related musculoskeletal symptoms (WRMS) in street sanitation workers.

Methods

A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted with 87 male street sanitation workers at E Gu in Seoul. The Job stress and WRMS were measured by using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form and the KOSHA GUIDE H-9-2012 instrument, respectively. The WRMS was evaluated according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health criteria.

Results

The participants reported greater levels of insufficient job control and interpersonal conflict than the general Korean population. Of the participants, 44.8% reported WRMS at any body parts. Specifically, 28.7% reported WRMS at upper parts, while 16.5% reported WRMS at lower parts. Compared to low levels of job demand, its high levels were significantly associated with WRMS at both upper and lower parts of the body (OR=3.62, 95% CI=1.15~11.38; OR=3.60, 95% CI=1.04~12.39). Compared to low levels of occupational climate, its high levels were significantly associated with WRMS at upper parts of the body (OR=3.18, 95% CI=1.22~8.26).

Conclusion

Among street sanitation workers, job stress may be a correlate of WRMS. Therefore, nursing strategies for reducing job stress are needed to prevent and manage WRMS.

Keywords: Psychological stress; Musculoskeletal diseases; Sanitation

Notes

This work was supported by the 2013 Korea University Nursing Research Center Grant.

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Article information Continued

© 2013 Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Funded by : Korea University Nursing Research Center

Table 1

Sociodemographic, Work-and Health Behaviors-related Characteristics (N=87)

Table 1

Table 2

Levels of Job Stress by Subscale among Street Sanitation Workers (N=87)

Table 2

†According to the reference (Chang et al., 2005).

Table 3

Work-related Musculoskeletal Symptoms by Parts of the Body according to NIOSH Criteria† among Street Sanitation Workers (N=87)

Table 3

NIOSH=national institute for occupational safety and health.

†NIOSH criteria indicate the experience of musculoskeletal symptoms that last for one week or have at least once per month during the past year; ‡Multiple response.

Table 4

Associations between Job Stress and Work-related Musculoskeletal Symptoms among Street Sanitation Workers (N=87)

Table 4

Note. Adjusted for age, education, years of employment, current smoking, drinking and physical activity; CI=confidence interval; OR=odd ratio.

*p<.05.