IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/socmed/v71y2010i9p1557-1566.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Looking upstream to understand low back pain and return to work: Psychosocial factors as the product of system issues

Author

Listed:
  • Soklaridis, Sophie
  • Ammendolia, Carlo
  • Cassidy, David

Abstract

Low back pain (LBP) is the most common and expensive musculoskeletal (MSK) disorder in industrialized countries. There is evidence that personal and occupational psychosocial variables play a more important role than spinal pathology or the physical demands of the job. However, it is unclear which psychosocial variables are most important. The objective of this study is to understand which psychosocial variables are deemed most important to various workplace stakeholders involved in the process of returning a worker with LBP to work. Nine focus groups were convened with injured workers, small and large employers, unions, health and safety associations, physicians and non-physician clinicians, return to work coordinators and compensation board representatives in Ontario, Canada. A qualitative grounded theory approach was applied to explore, from their perspectives, important psychosocial factors that prevent the promotion of early and safe return to work (RTW) for individuals with LBP. While the study began by asking questions related to the various psychosocial factors and their association to LBP and RTW, it took an interesting turn. The majority of study participants described how psychosocial factors were the product of larger systemic/organizational issues. Rather than focusing solely on individual psychosocial factors, respondents described how the context of a much larger system, and the complex interplay between the many different components of that system, contributes directly or indirectly to the treatment of LBP and RTW. It is the interrelationships between these systems that determine the process of returning an injured worker with LBP back to work. Although it is important to understand how psychosocial factors affect RTW, organizational structures within our social context seem to play a role in shaping how all stakeholders see and emotionally respond to LBP and RTW, as well as the degree to which they can envision taking action on them. We need to consider moving beyond a psychosocial conceptualization of LBP and RTW into a sociopolitical and economic conceptualization. This reconceptualization provides insight into the "upstream factors" associated with LBP and RTW.

Suggested Citation

  • Soklaridis, Sophie & Ammendolia, Carlo & Cassidy, David, 2010. "Looking upstream to understand low back pain and return to work: Psychosocial factors as the product of system issues," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(9), pages 1557-1566, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:71:y:2010:i:9:p:1557-1566
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277-9536(10)00641-6
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Magnus, S.A. & Mick, S.S., 2000. "Medical schools, affirmative action, and the neglected role of social class," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 90(8), pages 1197-1201.
    2. Ball, Kylie & Crawford, David, 2005. "Socioeconomic status and weight change in adults: a review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(9), pages 1987-2010, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ritva Horppu & Kari-Pekka Martimo & Eira Viikari-Juntura & Tea Lallukka & Ellen MacEachen, 2016. "Occupational Physicians’ Reasoning about Recommending Early Return to Work with Work Modifications," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(7), pages 1-13, July.
    2. Rubin, Sara & Zimmer, Zachary, 2015. "Pain and self-assessed health: Does the association vary by age?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 259-267.
    3. Bartys, Serena & Frederiksen, Pernille & Bendix, Tom & Burton, Kim, 2017. "System influences on work disability due to low back pain: An international evidence synthesis," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 121(8), pages 903-912.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Umberson, Debra & Liu, Hui & Mirowsky, John & Reczek, Corinne, 2011. "Parenthood and trajectories of change in body weight over the life course," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(9), pages 1323-1331.
    2. Baum II, Charles L. & Ruhm, Christopher J., 2009. "Age, socioeconomic status and obesity growth," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 635-648, May.
    3. Stephanie A. Prince & Elizabeth A. Kristjansson & Katherine Russell & Jean-Michel Billette & Michael Sawada & Amira Ali & Mark S. Tremblay & Denis Prud’homme, 2011. "A Multilevel Analysis of Neighbourhood Built and Social Environments and Adult Self-Reported Physical Activity and Body Mass Index in Ottawa, Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-26, October.
    4. María A. González-Álvarez & Angelina Lázaro-Alquézar & María Blanca Simón-Fernández, 2020. "Global Trends in Child Obesity: Are Figures Converging?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-20, December.
    5. Ingunn Holden Bergh & Øivind Skare & Annalena Aase & Knut-Inge Klepp & Nanna Lien, 2016. "Weight development from age 13 to 30 years and adolescent socioeconomic status: The Norwegian Longitudinal Health Behaviour study," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 61(4), pages 465-473, May.
    6. Scharoun-Lee, Melissa & Adair, Linda S. & Kaufman, Jay S. & Gordon-Larsen, Penny, 2009. "Obesity, race/ethnicity and the multiple dimensions of socioeconomic status during the transition to adulthood: A factor analysis approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(4), pages 708-716, February.
    7. Tafreschi, Darjusch, 2015. "The income body weight gradients in the developing economy of China," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 16(C), pages 115-134.
    8. Zeng, Wu & Eisenberg, Dan T.A. & Jovel, Karla Rubio & Undurraga, Eduardo A. & Nyberg, Colleen & Tanner, Susan & Reyes-García, Victoria & Leonard, William R. & Castaño, Juliana & Huanca, Tomás & McDade, 2013. "Adult obesity: Panel study from native Amazonians," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 11(2), pages 227-235.
    9. Andre Krumel Portella & Afroditi Papantoni & Catherine Paquet & Spencer Moore & Keri Shiels Rosch & Stewart Mostofsky & Richard S Lee & Kimberly R Smith & Robert Levitan & Patricia Pelufo Silveira & S, 2020. "Predicted DRD4 prefrontal gene expression moderates snack intake and stress perception in response to the environment in adolescents," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(6), pages 1-20, June.
    10. Jin-Won Noh & Minkyung Jo & Taewook Huh & Jooyoung Cheon & Young Dae Kwon, 2014. "Gender Differences and Socioeconomic Status in Relation to Overweight among Older Korean People," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(5), pages 1-9, May.
    11. Backett-Milburn, Kathryn C. & Wills, Wendy J. & Roberts, Mei-Li & Lawton, Julia, 2010. "Food, eating and taste: Parents' perspectives on the making of the middle class teenager," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(7), pages 1316-1323, October.
    12. Wen, Ming & Maloney, Thomas N., 2014. "Neighborhood socioeconomic status and BMI differences by immigrant and legal status: Evidence from Utah," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 12(C), pages 120-131.
    13. Thomas Burgoine & Joreintje D. Mackenbach & Jeroen Lakerveld & Nita G. Forouhi & Simon J. Griffin & Søren Brage & Nicholas J. Wareham & Pablo Monsivais, 2017. "Interplay of Socioeconomic Status and Supermarket Distance Is Associated with Excess Obesity Risk: A UK Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-13, October.
    14. Emma Gearon & Anna Peeters & Winda Ng & Allison Hodge & Kathryn Backholer, 2018. "Diet and physical activity as possible mediators of the association between educational attainment and body mass index gain among Australian adults," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 63(7), pages 883-893, September.
    15. Pampel, Fred C. & Denney, Justin T. & Krueger, Patrick M., 2012. "Obesity, SES, and economic development: A test of the reversal hypothesis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(7), pages 1073-1081.
    16. Deborah J. Bowen & Jennifer M. Jabson & Wendy E. Barrington & Alyson J. Littman & Donald L. Patrick & Anne Vernez Moudon & Denise Albano & Shirley A. A. Beresford, 2018. "Environmental and Individual Predictors of Healthy Dietary Behaviors in a Sample of Middle Aged Hispanic and Caucasian Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-18, October.
    17. Fiona Webster & Kathleen Rice & Joel Katz & Onil Bhattacharyya & Craig Dale & Ross Upshur, 2019. "An ethnography of chronic pain management in primary care: The social organization of physicians’ work in the midst of the opioid crisis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(5), pages 1-16, May.
    18. L. Pieroni & D. Lanari & L. Salmasi, 2013. "Food prices and overweight patterns in Italy," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 14(1), pages 133-151, February.
    19. Morar, Manisha & Vandevijvere, Stefanie & Swinburn, Boyd, 2021. "The potential impact of an implemented income redistribution package on obesity prevalence in New Zealand," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    20. Ahmad Bahonar & Nizal Sarrafzadegan & Roya Kelishadi & Shahin Shirani & Mohammad Ramezani & Mohammad Taghdisi & Mojgan Gharipour, 2011. "Association of socioeconomic profiles with cardiovascular risk factors in Iran: the Isfahan Healthy Heart Program," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 56(1), pages 37-44, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:71:y:2010:i:9:p:1557-1566. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/315/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.