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Musculoskeletal Health and Perceived Work Ability in a Manufacturing Workforce

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Abstract

Aging workers in manufacturing are at greater risk of workforce departure than in other sectors. Workers in manufacturing have a variety of job types. Some jobs require traditional kinds of intensive manual labor, but new technology now requires many workers to operate automated machines from computer workstations, resulting in different physical demands from traditional production jobs that can nonetheless contribute to musculoskeletal strain and decreased functional capacity. Musculoskeletal health (MSH) and perceived work ability (PWA) are relevant to departure decisions, yet studies rarely model these constructs simultaneously. We used the job demands-resources model to evaluate job/personal demands and resources as antecedents of MSH and PWA, and examine both as mediators of departure. Workers from six U.S. manufacturers completed surveys (N = 758). Most were white, male, married, and middle-aged (M = 47.2 years). Hypotheses were tested using multiple linear regression and structural equation modeling. MSH and PWA were modeled as latent variables, and all others as observed variables. MSH and PWA were impacted by different demands and resources. Job demands (computer-based) and personal resources (sleep quality, leisure-time walking) predicted MSH, and job resources (supervisor support) and personal resources (sleep surplus) predicted PWA. MSH mediated relations of computer-based job demands, sleep quality, and leisure-time walking with PWA. MSH and PWA were unrelated to departure, likely due to sampling limitations. Identifying upstream causes of MSH and PWA provides primary preventative points of intervention – such as reducing job demands and offering needed resources – that may improve the health and functioning of aging workers.

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The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the workers and leaders at the manufacturing companies who contributed to this study for their effort and dedication to worker well-being. We also appreciate the contributions of Dr. Anne Kenny to early versions of this paper including participation in study conception and generation of study hypotheses.

Funding

This publication was supported by Grant Number R01OH008929 from the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NIOSH.

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Authors

Contributions

AGD, JLB, JMC, LG, and NW contributed to the conception of the scientific questions and design of the work. RAL, LG, and GAP contributed to data analysis approach and performed data analysis. AGD, RAL, JLB, JMC, JLG, NW, and MGC contributed to interpretation of results. All authors contributed to manuscript preparation and revisions.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alicia G. Dugan.

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Ethics Approval

The Institutional Review Board at the University of Connecticut’s School of Medicine approved the study protocol and written informed consent was obtained. Protocol number: 18-072S-2.

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Written informed consent was obtained by all study participants.

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Obtained.

Conflicts of Interest/Competing Interests

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Dugan, A.G., Laguerre, R.A., Barnes-Farrell, J.L. et al. Musculoskeletal Health and Perceived Work Ability in a Manufacturing Workforce. Occup Health Sci 6, 73–110 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41542-021-00106-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41542-021-00106-4

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