The Impact of Social and Organizational Factors on Workers' Coping With Musculoskeletal Symptoms

Background and Purpose. Workers with musculoskeletal symptoms are often advised to cope with their symptoms by changing their working technique and by using lifting equipment. The main objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that negative social and organizational factors where people are employed may prevent workers from implementing these coping strategies. Subjects and Methods. A total of 1,567 automobile garage workers (72%) returned a questionnaire concerning coping with musculoskeletal symptoms and social and organizational factors. Results. When job demands, decision authority, social support, and management support related to health, environment, and safety (HES) were used as predictor variables in a multiple regression model, coping as the outcome variable was correlated with decision authority, social support, and HES-related management support (standardized beta=.079, .12, and .13, respectively). When an index for health-related support and control was added to the model, it correlated with coping (standardized beta=.36), whereas the other relationships disappeared. Discussion and Conclusion. Decision authority and social support entail health-related support and control that, in turn, influences coping.