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Association of psychological distress and work psychosocial factors with self-reported musculoskeletal pain among secondary school teachers in Malaysia

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  • E N Zamri
  • F M Moy
  • V C W Hoe

Abstract

Background: Musculoskeletal pain is common among teachers. Work-related psychosocial factors are found to be associated with the development of musculoskeletal pain, however psychological distress may also play an important role. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of self-reported low back pain (LBP), and neck and/or shoulder pain (NSP) among secondary school teachers; and to evaluate the association of LBP and NSP with psychological distress and work-related psychosocial factors. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among teachers in the state of Penang, Malaysia. The participants were recruited via a two stage sampling method. Information on demographic, psychological distress, work-related psychosocial factors, and musculoskeletal pain (LBP and NSP) in the past 12 months was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Poisson regression was used to estimate the prevalence ratio (PR) for the associations between psychological distress and work-related psychosocial factors with LBP and NSP. Results: The prevalence of self-reported LBP and NSP among 1482 teachers in the past 12 months was 48.0% (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 45.2%, 50.9%) and 60.1% (95% CI 57.4%, 62.9%) respectively. From the multivariate analysis, self-reported LBP was associated with teachers who reported severe to extremely severe depression (PR: 1.71, 95% CI 1.25, 2.32), severe to extremely severe anxiety (1.46, 95% CI 1.22, 1.75), high psychological job demand (1.29, 95% CI 1.06, 1.57), low skill discretion (1.28, 95% CI 1.13, 1.47) and poorer mental health (0.98, 95% CI 0.97, 0.99). Self-reported NSP was associated with mild to moderate anxiety (1.18, 95% CI 1.06, 1.33), severe to extremely severe anxiety (1.25, 95% CI 1.09, 1.43), low supervisory support (1.13, 95% CI 1.03, 1.25) and poorer mental health (0.98, 95% CI 0.97, 0.99). Conclusions: Self-reported LBP and NSP were common among secondary school teachers. Interventions targeting psychological distress and work-related psychosocial characteristics may reduce musculoskeletal pain among school teachers.

Suggested Citation

  • E N Zamri & F M Moy & V C W Hoe, 2017. "Association of psychological distress and work psychosocial factors with self-reported musculoskeletal pain among secondary school teachers in Malaysia," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(2), pages 1-15, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0172195
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172195
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Caryn Mei Hsien Chan & Siew Li Ng & Serena In & Lei Hum Wee & Ching Sin Siau, 2021. "Predictors of Psychological Distress and Mental Health Resource Utilization among Employees in Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-15, January.
    2. Nur Izzati Zarin & Kuldip Kaur & Shafinar Ismail & Yap Voon Choong & Chew Sze Siong, 2022. "A Call for a New Stress Index for Malaysian Teachers: A Systematic Review of Studies of Stress among Teachers in Malaysia," World Journal of English Language, Sciedu Press, vol. 12(2), pages 202-202, December.
    3. Ng Yi Ming & Peter Voo Su Kiong & Ismail Maakip, 2020. "Predictors of Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Teachers: An Exploratory Investigation in Malaysia," Asian Social Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 16(7), pages 1-67, July.
    4. Óscar Rodríguez-Nogueira & Raquel Leirós-Rodríguez & José Alberto Benítez-Andrades & María José Álvarez-Álvarez & Pilar Marqués-Sánchez & Arrate Pinto-Carral, 2020. "Musculoskeletal Pain and Teleworking in Times of the COVID-19: Analysis of the Impact on the Workers at Two Spanish Universities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-12, December.
    5. Suzita Md Shah & Shereen Noranee & Zarina Abdul Munir & Salina Noranee & Shafiq Shahruddin & Siti Mujanah, 2024. "The Influence of Work-Life Balance, Workload and Work Environment on Burnout among Teachers in Melaka Tengah District, Malaysia," Information Management and Business Review, AMH International, vol. 16(1), pages 137-152.
    6. Mélèa Saïd & Sofia Temam & Stephanie Alexander & Nathalie Billaudeau & Marie Zins & Sofiane Kab & Marie-Noël Vercambre, 2022. "Teachers’ Health: How General, Mental and Functional Health Indicators Compare to Other Employees? A Large French Population-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-15, September.
    7. R Zirwatul Aida R Ibrahim & Wan Zaleha Mohd Zalam & Bob Foster & Teuku Afrizal & Muhamad Deni Johansyah & Jumadil Saputra & Azlina Abu Bakar & Mazidah Mohd Dagang & Siti Nazilah Mat Ali, 2021. "Psychosocial Work Environment and Teachers’ Psychological Well-Being: The Moderating Role of Job Control and Social Support," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-19, July.

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