Musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial risks in geriatric nursing aides: the mediating role of social support at work.
Source: PubMed, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine
To analyse the link between Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) and certain psychosocial risk factors in the context of geriatric nursing aides. To explore social support at work as a mediating variable between other psychosocial risks and the onset of musculoskeletal symptoms. A cross-sectional observational study was carried out. Data from a sample of 526 nursing aides working in 35 residential centres for the elderly of a Spanish region were collected. Validated scales such as the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and Job Content Questionnaire were used to measure prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and different psychosocial risks (psychological demand, social support from supervisors and peers, control over work). A parallel mediation analysis was carried out to determine the mediating role of social support at work on the relationship between the psychological job demands and MSDs. Psychological demand and social support at work were significantly linked (U = 17,792; U = 18,766, p < .001) to musculoskeletal health.The results from the parallel mediation analysis showed that the indirect effect of the psychological demand on MSDs via social support form supervisors was also statistically significant (β = 0.079; CI = 0.034; 0.137) but not so in the case of social support from peers (β= - 0.008; CI= - 0.041; 0.010). Psychological demand and social support are risks significantly associated with musculoskeletal health. Social support received from supervisor
Abstract
To analyse the link between Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) and certain psychosocial risk factors in the context of geriatric nursing aides. To explore social support at work as a mediating variable between other psychosocial risks and the onset of musculoskeletal symptoms. A cross-sectional observational study was carried out. Data from a sample of 526 nursing aides working in 35 residential centres for the elderly of a Spanish region were collected. Validated scales such as the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and Job Content Questionnaire were used to measure prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and different psychosocial risks (psychological demand, social support from supervisors and peers, control over work). A parallel mediation analysis was carried out to determine the mediating role of social support at work on the relationship between the psychological job demands and MSDs. Psychological demand and social support at work were significantly linked (U = 17,792; U = 18,766, p < .001) to musculoskeletal health.The results from the parallel mediation analysis showed that the indirect effect of the psychological demand on MSDs via social support form supervisors was also statistically significant (β = 0.079; CI = 0.034; 0.137) but not so in the case of social support from peers (β= - 0.008; CI= - 0.041; 0.010). Psychological demand and social support are risks significantly associated with musculoskeletal health. Social support received from supervisors acts as a protective factor against MSDs in workers with high-demand jobs. However, social support from peers does not have a significant effect on the model proposed.