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The incremental effect of psychosocial workplace factors on the development of neck and shoulder disorders: a systematic review of longitudinal studies

  • Review Article
  • Published:
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

To systematically analyse evidence on the incremental effect of work-related psychosocial risk factors on the development of neck and shoulder disorders, as reported in longitudinal studies.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted in three data bases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsychINFO) until May 2009. The quality assessment leading to a methodological quality score of the included studies was conducted by two independent reviewers using a standardised checklist. Criteria for the evaluation of evidence were established. Heterogeneity analyses were conducted.

Results

Altogether 18 prospective longitudinal studies were included in the analysis. Potential psychosocial risk factors were mainly based on the job demand control (support) model by Karasek (1998). Study results were too heterogeneous to deduce pooled risk estimates. But the weight of evidence was strong for an incremental effect of job demands, job control, social support, and job strain, on the development of neck and/or shoulder disorders.

Conclusion

While we found evidence for an incremental effect of different psychosocial work factors (in addition to the effect of physical job factors), these results have to be interpreted carefully in order to support the notion that psychological factors can have an independent causal influence on the development of musculoskeletal disorders. Nevertheless, our findings are important for the development of preventive strategies, as they stress the need for preventive approaches that tackle both physical and psychosocial factors. Future research is warranted to consolidate and strengthen the results of this review.

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Acknowledgments

This review was conducted as a by-product of another study, sponsored by the German Accident Insurance (Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung, DGUV). The authors would like to thank Dr. Rolf Ellegast for his support during this study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Faculty, Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

    Silvia Kraatz, Jessica Lang, Thomas Kraus & Elke Ochsmann

  2. Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany

    Eva Münster

  3. Faculty of Health Care Management, Zwickau University of Applied Sciences, Zwickau, Germany

    Elke Ochsmann

Authors
  1. Silvia Kraatz
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  2. Jessica Lang
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  3. Thomas Kraus
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  5. Elke Ochsmann
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elke Ochsmann.

Appendix

Appendix

Explanation of the methodological criteria from Table 1

A

Positive if at least two demographic factors out of age, gender, profession are clearly defined

B

Positive if either inclusion or exclusion criteria for the baseline population are presented

C

Positive if the total number of participants was ≥60% on the last point of follow-up compared to the number of participants at baseline

D

Positive if demographic/clinical information (patient/disease characteristics such as age, sex and other potential prognostic predictors) was presented for those lost to follow-up/drop-outs

E

Positive if the follow-up period was at least 3 months

F

Positive if clinical diagnosis was assessed

G

Positive if standardised questionnaires at baseline and at follow-up were applied for outcome measurement

H

Positive if objective outcome measurements are applied (clinical examination, clinical tests, X-ray)

I

Positive if standardised questionnaires at baseline and at follow-up were applied for psychosocial risk factors

J

Positive if standardised questionnaires at baseline and follow-up were applied for physical risk factors

K

Positive if objective assessment of physical exposure is conducted (video analysis, weight definition)

L

Positive if the data presentation fits to the stated method

M

Positive if univariate/multivariate models are presented by means of relative risks, rate ratios, odds ratios or hazard ratios

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Kraatz, S., Lang, J., Kraus, T. et al. The incremental effect of psychosocial workplace factors on the development of neck and shoulder disorders: a systematic review of longitudinal studies. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 86, 375–395 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-013-0848-y

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