Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39604936›Full record

Observational studyBMC musculoskeletal disorders2024

The association of different types of stress, and stress accumulation with low back pain in call-center workers - a cross-sectional observational study.

Michael Brenner-Fliesser, Sanne Houtenbos, Marie Ewerton, Carolin Bontrup, Rosa Visscher, William R Taylor, Roland Zemp, Pia-Maria Wippert

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Michael Brenner-FliesserLIFE - Institute for Climate, Energy and Society, Joanneum Research, Graz, 8020, Austria.
Sanne HoutenbosMedical Sociology and Psychobiology, Department of Health and Physical Activity, University of Potsdam, 14469, Potsdam, Germany. sanne.houtenbos@uni-potsdam.de.
Marie EwertonMedical Sociology and Psychobiology, Department of Health and Physical Activity, University of Potsdam, 14469, Potsdam, Germany.
Carolin BontrupInstitute of Public Health, Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), Winterthur, 8400, Switzerland.
Rosa VisscherCareum Hochschule Gesundheit, Kalaidos Fachhochschule, Zürich, 8006, Switzerland.
William R TaylorLaboratory for Movement Biomechanics, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland.
Roland ZempLaboratory for Movement Biomechanics, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland.
Pia-Maria WippertMedical Sociology and Psychobiology, Department of Health and Physical Activity, University of Potsdam, 14469, Potsdam, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLow back pain (LBP) is a common health complaint and a prominent factor in the development of LBP among the working population is stress. Mostly, stress is addressed as a general problem, which is why LBP prevention programs are often imprecise. Accordingly, a closer look at the association between specific stress types and the development of LBP is necessary. Therefore, this paper aims (1) to identify the stress types most closely associated with LBP; (2) to examine the relationship between stress accumulation and LBP.

methodsn = 100 call-center workers were approached for participation. Stress levels and LBP were assessed with questionnaires (TICS, ERI, CPG, BPI) and hair cortisol levels were measured (ELISA-KIT, 3-months period). Mann-Whitney U tests were used to identify stress types most closely associated with LBP. Further, ANCOVA analysis was conducted to determine the association of the number of experienced stress types with LBP intensity and impairment.

resultsFinally, data from n = 68 participants (mean age: 43.2 (± 12.8) years; 62% female) were used for presented analysis. Participants, who were affected by work-related stress showed higher pain severity (excessive demands at work: 23.6 ± 21.8 vs. 42.4 ± 25.0 (p = 0.005)) and more impairment (excessive demands at work: 13.7 ± 17.6 vs. 28.7 ± 22.3 (p = 0.003); work overload: 15.4 ± 20.4 vs. 26.3 ± 17.4 (p = 0.009)) than their less affected colleagues. Other stress types (e.g. Effort, Reward) showed no significant association with LBP. Furthermore, participants who experienced two or more of the most associated stress types simultaneously suffered from stronger pain and more impairment (p < 0.01).

conclusionsThe results suggest that it is essential to divide and evaluate stress in specific domains. Furthermore, the accumulation of different stress types and the resulting physiological load should be taken into account when designing prevention and intervention programs. Results may be of high relevance for the development of LBP prevention programs for people within a predominantly sitting working context.

Indexed as

Low Back PainAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedOccupational DiseasesOccupational StressStress, PsychologicalSurveys and QuestionnairesCall-center workersHair-cortisolLow back painSitting workStressStress types

Identifiers

PMID39604936
PMCPMC11603932

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.