Abstract:

Objective To investigate the association between occupational stress and work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among shoemaking industry workers and to provide evidence for the prevention of WMSDs in this population.

Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted from July to September 2022, and stratified sampling by enterprise size was performed, followed by random sampling within each enterprise based on the proportion of workers. A total of 1 396 workers from 30 shoemaking industry enterprises in Guangdong Province were enrolled. Occupational stress and WMSDs were assessed using the Core Occupational Stress Scale (COSS) and the Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between occupational stress and WMSDs.

Results Among these participants, 302 workers were identified as experiencing occupational stress, yielding a detection rate of 21.6%. A total of 517 workers reported WMSDs, corresponding to a prevalence of 37.0%. The three most frequently affected body regions were the neck (24.0%), shoulders (19.9%), and back (18.3%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that workers with occupational stress were 1.617 times more likely to develop WMSDs than those without occupational stress (OR=1.617, 95%CI: 1.225 to 2.135, P<0.05). For each one-point increase in the scores for social support, organization and reward, and autonomy, the likelihood of WMSDs decreased by 10.7%, 4.3%, and 11.1%, respectively, whereas each one-point increase in the demand and effort score was associated with a 20.7% increase in the likelihood of WMSDs (all P<0.05).

Conclusions Occupational stress was associated with the occurrence of WMSDs among shoemaking industry workers. Greater attention should be paid to psychosocial factors, particularly occupational stress, in the prevention and control of WMSDs.