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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2016 Aug 1.
Published in final edited form as: J Occup Environ Med. 2015 Aug;57(8):910–928. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000501

Table II.

Risk Factors for “Back Pain” (Frequency Counts and Odds Ratios).

Outcome Measures/Risk Factors Back Pain Back Pain

Risk Factors. n=number of interviewees* Yes Freq. (%) OR (95% CI)

Individual Factors 2002 2006 2010 2002 2006 2010 2002 2006 2010

Age
Compared with age 18-24
18-24 n=127 n=127 n=71 39(30.7%) 35(27.6%) 20(28.2%)
25-34 n=390 n=365 n=241 114(29.2%) 97(26.6%) 68(28.2%) 0.93(0.60-1.44) 0.96(0.61-1.50) 1.00(0.56-1.81)
35-44 n=376 n=402 n=254 107(28.5%) 122(30.4%) 60(23.6%) 0.90(0.58-1.39) 1.15(0.74-1.79) 0.79(0.44-1.43)
45-54 n=347 n=398 n=253 95(27.4%) 121(30.5%) 63(24.9%) 0.85(0.55-1.33) 1.15(0.74-1.79) 0.85(0.47-1.53)
55-64 n=182 n=212 n=170 44(24.2%) 48(22.6%) 44(25.9%) 0.72(0.43-1.20) 0.77(0.46-1.28) 0.89(0.48-1.66)
>65 n=37 n=49 n=53 10(27.0%) 10(20.4%) 14(26.4%) 0.84(0.37-1.89) 0.67(0.30-1.50) 0.92(0.41-2.04)

Gender Compared with male

Male n=769 n=772 n=503 217(28.2%) 202(26.7%) 126(25.1%) 0.99(0.79-1.24) 1.16(0.95-1.48) 1.08(0.82-1.42)
Female n=696 n=787 n=540 195(28.0%) 231(29.6%) 143(26.5%)

Hurt at Work (# times hurt at work last year)
Compared with 0 times.
0 times n=1299 n=1370 n=938 326 (25.1%) 343(24.0%) 225(24.0%)
1 time n=106 n=112 n=61 50 (47.2%) 54(48.2%) 61(39.3%) 2.67(1.78-3.98) 2.79(1.89-4.12) 2.06(1.20-3.51)
2 times n=17 n=40 n=20 8 (47.1%) 22(55.0%) 20(45.0%) 2.64(1.02-6.93) 3.66(1.94-6.90) 2.60(1.06-6.34)
=>3 times n=37 n=14 n=21 24 (64.9%) 14(45.2%) 21(52.4%) 5.51(2.77-10.95) 2.47(1.20-5.06) 3.49(1.46-8.32)

Physical Health (How many days during the past 30 days was your physical health not good?)
Compared with 0-13 days.
0 - 13 days n=1482 n=1450 n=958 394(26.6%) 382(26.3%) 223(23.3%) 2.76(1.85-4.12) 3.13(2.03-4.82) 4.05(2.53-6.48)
≥ 14 days n=104 n=89 n=78 52(50.0%) 47(52.8%) 43(55.1%)

Mental Health (How many days during the past 30 days was your mental health not good?)
Compared with 0-13 days.
0 - 13 days n=1396 n=1415 n=922 359(25.7%) 363(25.7%) 206(22.3%) 2.41(1.76-3.29) 3.20(2.19-4.65) 3.73(2.50-5.58)
≥ 14 days n=187 n=122 n=112 85(45.5%) 64(52.5%) 58(51.8%)

Health Days (How many days during past 30 days did your poor mental or physical health affect usual activities?)
Compared with 0-13 days.
0-13 days n=1521 n=1495 n=955 416(27.4%) 402(26.9%) 244(24.5%) 2.21(1.35-3.64) 4.23(2.31-7.73) 3.73(1.99-6.96)
≥ 14 days n=66 n=46 n=42 30(45.5%) 28(60.1%) 23(54.8%)

Physical Factors 2002 2006 2010 2002 2006 2010 2002 2006 2010

Heavy Lifting (Job requires repeated lifting pulling or pushing?)
Yes vs. No
No n=794 n=832 n=553 172(21.7%) 192(23.1%) 121(21.9%) 2.01(1.60-2.54) 1.69(1.35-2.11) 1.55(1.17-2.05)
Yes n=671 n=717 n=489 240(35.8%) 241(33.6%) 148(30.3%)

Hand Movement (Job requires repetitive, or stressful hand movements or awkward postures)
Yes vs. No
No n=714 n=783 n=557 136(19.0%) 167(21.3%) 113(20.3%) 2.47(1.95-3.14) 1.96(1.56-2.46) 1.86(1.41-2.47)
Yes n=751 n=767 n=485 276(36.6%) 266(34.7%) 156(32.2%)

Physical Effort (Please rate the overall physical effort at the job you normally do) Compared with Very Light

Very Light n=264 50(19.0%)
Fairly light n=295 59(20.0%) 1.07(0.70-1.63)
Somewhat hard n=262 71(27.1%) 1.59(1.06-2.40)
Hard n=121 42(35.0%) 2.28(1.40-3.69)
Very Hard n=98 46(47.0%) 3.79(2.29-6.26)

Psychosocial Factors 2002 2006 2010 2002 2006 2010 2002 2006 2010

Job Satisfaction (How satisfied with job?) Compared with very satisfied.

Very satisfied n=721 n=701 n=461 161(22.3%) 157(22.4%) 104(22.6%)
Somewhat satisfied n=580 n=708 n=463 177(30.5%) 215(30.4%) 115(25.0%) 1.53(1.19-1.96) 1.51(1.19-1.92) 1.13(0.84-1.54)
Not too satisfied n=113 n=97 n=84 50(44.3%) 46(47.4%) 35(41.7%) 2.76(1.83-4.16) 3.13(2.02-4.84) 2.45(1.51-3.99)
Not at all satisfied n=48 n=46 n=35 23(47.9%) 15(32.6%) 15(43.0%) 3.20(1.77-5.79) 1.67(0.88-3.18) 2.58(1.27-5.21)

Work Freedom (Freedom to decide how to do my own work) Compared with not at all true.

Not at all true n=66 n=61 n=46 34(51.5%) 20(32.8%) 14(30.4%)
Not too true Somewhat n=118 n=144 n=84 31(26.3%) 49(34.0%) 27(32.1%) 0.34(0.18-0.63) 1.06(0.56-1.20) 1.08(0.50-2.36)
true n=453 n=482 n=334 139(30.7%) 144(30.0%) 97(29.0%) 0.42(0.25-0.70) 0.87(0.49-1.54) 0.93(0.48-1.83)
Very true n=825 n=850 n=578 207(25.1%) 218(25.7%) 131(22.7%) 0.32(0.19-0.52) 0.71(0.41-1.23) 0.67(0.35-1.29)

Supervisor Support Compared with very true.

Very true n=524 n=539 n=379 126(24.1%) 140(26.0%) 79(20.1%)
Somewhat true n=614 n=641 n=422 168(27.4%) 164(25.6%) 107(25.4%) 1.19(0.91-1.56) 0.98(0.75-1.273) 1.29(0.93-1.80)
Not too true n=196 n=220 n=163 61(63.4%) 83(37.7%) 54(33.1%) 1.43(0.99-2.05) 1.73(1.24-2.411) 1.88(1.25-2.83)
Not at all true n=102 n=91 n=56 49(48.1%) 29(31.9%) 25(44.6%) 2.92(1.89-4.52) 1.33(0.82-2.157) 3.06(1.71-5.48)

Work Time (Enough time to get job done.) Compared with very true.

Very true n=607 n=594 n=405 161 (26.5%) 158(26.6%) 91(22.5%)
Somewhat true n=580 n=671 n=459 160 (27.6%) 176(26.2%) 127(27.7%) 1.06(0.82-1.40) 0.98(0.76-1.26) 1.32(0.97-1.80)
Not too true n=169 n=193 n=121 51 (30.2%) 64(33.2%) 34(28.1%) 1.20(0.82-1.74) 1.37(0.96-1.94) 1.35(0.85-2.14)
Not at all true n=106 n=99 n=56 39 (36.8%) 32(40.5%) 17(30.4%) 1.61(1.05-2.49) 1.88(1.16-3.05) 1.50(0.81-2.78)

Work Fast (Job requires I work fast.) Compared with strongly disagree.

Strongly Disagree n=48 n=57 n=29 14(29.2%) 17(29.8%) 5(17.2%)
Disagree n=477 n=444 n=300 128(26.8%) 109(24.6%) 59(21.9%) 0.89(0.46-1.71) 0.77(0.42-1.41) 1.18(0.43-3.21)
Agree n=619 n=713 n=485 160(25.9%) 203(28.4%) 134(27.6%) 0.85(0.44-1.62) 0.94(0.52-1.69) 1.83(0.69-4.90)
Strongly Agree n=317 n=332 n=226 108(34.1%) 104(31.3%) 71(31.4%) 1.26(0.65-2.44) 1.07(0.58-1.98) 2.20(0.81-6.00)

Work hours (# hours(h) worked last week) Compared with < 40h

≤40h n=746 n=837 n=583 209(28.0%) 221(26.1%) 158(27.1%)
41-50h n=402 n=377 n=261 124(30.9%) 116(30.8%) 57(21.8%) 1.15(0.88-1.49) 1.24(0.95-1.62) 0.75(0.53-1.06)
51-60h n=188 n=208 n=129 35(18.6%) 58(27.9%) 34(26.4%) 0.59(0.39-0.88) 1.08(0.77-1.51) 0.96(0.63-1.48)
61-70h n=69 n=60 n=40 22(31.9%) 14(23.3%) 11(27.5%) 1.20(0.71-2.05) 0.85(0.46-1.57) 1.02(0.50-2.09)
>71h n=56 n=71 n=30 20(35.7%) 24(33.8%) 9(30.0%) 1.43(0.81-2.52) 1.42(0.85-2.38) 1.15(0.52-2.57)

Must Work (Mandatory to work extra hours.) Yes vs. No

No n=1041 n=1101 n=724 262(25.2%) 288(26.2%) 181(25.0%)
Yes n=411 n=429 n=303 146(35.5%) 140(32.6%) 8 5 (28. 1%) 1.64(1.28-2.10) 1.37(1.07-1.74) 1.17(0.87-1.58)

Safety climate Compared with strongly agree.

Strongly agree n=504 n= 822 n=527 126(25.0%) 213(25.9%) 122(23.2%)
Agree n=713 n=578 n=414 19 (27.2%) 161(27.9%) 106(25.6%) 1.12(0.86-1.46) 1.10(0.87-1.40) 1.14(0.85-1.54)
Disagree n=179 n=89 n=58 68(38.0%) 32(36.0%) 20(34.5%) 1.84(1.28-2.64) 1.61(1.01-2.54) 1.75(0.98-3.11)
Strongly disagree n=65 n=51 n=41 21(32.3%) 24(47.1%) 21(51.2%) 1.43(0.82-2.50) 2.54(1.44-4.50) 3.49(1.83-6.64)

Work Stress (How often is work stressful?) Compared with never.

Never n=88 n=80 n=59 20(22.7%) 15(18.8%) 12(20.3%)
Hardly ever n=255 n=255 n=178 51(20.0%) 50(19.6%) 32(18.0%) 0.85(0.47-1.53) 1.06(0.56-2.01) 0.86(0.41-1.80)
Sometimes n=622 n=694 n=437 151(24.3% 174(25.1%) 104(23.8%) 1.09(0.64-0.85) 1.45(0.81-2.61) 1.22(0.63-2.39)
Often n=350 n=347 n=266 121(34.6%) 121(34.9%) 78(29.3%) 1.80(1.04-3.10) 2.32(1.27-4.24) 1.63(0.82-3.23)
Always n=148 n=174 n=103 68(46.0%) 73(42.0%) 43(41.8%) 2.89(1.60-5.24) 3.13(1.66-5.92) 2.81(1.33-5.91)

Work Schedule Compared with day shift.

Day Shift n=1078 n=1168 n=781 297(27.6%) 310(26.5%) 189(24.2%)
Afternoon Shift n=53 n=55 n=49 18(34.0%) 19(34.6%) 13(26.5%) 1.35(0.75-2.43) 1.46(0.826-2.585) 1.13(0.59-2.18)
Night Shift n=94 n=92 n=54 22(23.4%) 30(32.6%) 14(25.9%) 0.80(0.49-1.32) 1.34(0.850-2.111) 1.10(0.58-2.06)
Split Shift n=38 n=29 n=28 11(29.0%) 12(41.4%) 8(28.6%) 1.07(0.53-2.19) 1.95(0.923-4.139) 1.25(0.54-2.89)
Irreg./on call n=124 n=129 n=83 38(30.7%) 36(27.9%) 23(27.7%) 1.16(0.78-1.74) 1.07(0.714-1.608) 1.20(0.72-1.20)
Rotating Shift n=73 n=74 n=44 23(31.5%) 25(33.8%) 22(50%) 1.21(0.73-2.02) 1.43(0.857-2.326) 3.13(1.70-5.78)

Dichotomized Variables 2002 2006 2010 2002 2006 2010 2002 2006 2010

Job Satisfaction (Are you satisfied with your job?) No vs. Yes

Yes n=1301 n=1409 n=924 338(26.0%) 372(26.4%) 219(23.7%) 2.36(1.69-3.30) 2.08(1.46-2.95) 2.33(1.57-3.46)
No n=161 n=143 n=119 73(45.3%) 61(43.0%) 50(42.2%)

Safety Climate (Are safety conditions good at work?) Yes vs. No

No n=244 n=140 n=99 89(36.5%) 56(40.0%) 41(41.4%) 0.62(0.47-0.830) 0.55(0.38-0.78) 0.45(0.30-0.69)
Yes n=1217 n=1400 n=941 320(26.3%) 374(26.7%) 228(24.2%)

Work Stress (How often is work stressful?) Yes vs. No

No 3,4,5 n=965 n=1029 n=674 222(23.0% 239(23.2%) 148(22.0%) 2.05(1.62-2.59) 1.96(1.56-2.47) 1.73(1.31-2.30)
Yes 1,2 n=498 n=521 n=369 189(38.0%) 194(37.2%) 121(32.8%)

Work Fast (Does the job require that I work fast?) Yes vs. No

No n=525 n=501 n=329 142(27.1%) 126(25.2%) 64(19.5%) 1.08(0.85-1.37) 1.24(0.97-1.58) 1.67(1.22-2.30)
Yes n=936 n=1045 n=711 268(28.6%) 307(29.4%) 205(28.8%)

Work Time (Is there enough time to get the job done?) Yes vs. No

No n=275 n=272 n=177 90(32.7%) 96(35.3%) 51(28.8%) 0.76(0.57-1.04) 0.66(0.50-0.87) 0.83(0.58-1.20)
Yes n=1187 n=1265 n=864 321(27.0%) 334(26.4% 218(25.2%)

Risk Factor Combinations 2002 2006 2010 2002 2006 2010 2002 2006 2010

Heavy Lifting and Work Stress 3,4,5 Compared with No-No

No-No n=517 n=554 n=354 91(17.6%) 108(19.5%) 63(17.8%)
No-Yes n=277 n=278 n=199 81(29.4%) 84(30.2%) 58(29.2%) 1.94(1.37-2.73) 1.79(1.28-2.49) 1.90(1.26-2.86)
Yes-No n=448 n=474 n=319 131(29.4%) 131(27.6%) 85(26.7%) 1.94(1.43-2.62) 1.58(1.18-2.11) 1.68(1.16-2.43)
Yes-Yes n=221 n=242 n=170 108(48.9%) 110(45.5%) 63(37.1% 4.47(3.16-6.33) 3.44(2.48-4.78) 2.72(1.80-4.11)
Interaction 1.20(0.74-1.93) 1.22(0.77-1.94) 0.85 (0.48-1.51)

Heavy Lifting and Work Fast Compared with No-No

No-No n=305 n=284 n=178 68(22.3%) 61(21.5%) 32(18.0%)
No-Yes n=488 n=544 n=372 104(21.3%) 131(24.0%) 89(23.9%) 0.94(0.67-1.33) 1.16(0.82-1.64) 1.44(0.91-2.25)
Yes-No n=220 n=217 n=151 74(33.6%) 65(29.7%) 32(21.2%) 1.77(1.20-2.61) 1.56(1.04-2.35) 1.23(0.71-2.12)
Yes-Yes n=448 n=500 n=338 164(36.6%) 176(35.2%) 116(43.3%) 2.01(1.45-2.80) 1.99(1.42-2.78) 2.36(1.53-3.72)
Interaction 1.21(0.74-1.96) 1.10(0.67-1.78) 1.35(0.72-2.56)

Heavy Lifting and Work Time Compared with No-Yes

No-Yes n=636 n=671 n=453 135(21.2%) 142(21.2%) 96(21.2%)
No-No n=156 n=153 n=100 37(23.7%) 49(32.0% 25(25.0%) 1.15 (0.76-1.75) 1.76(1.19-2.58) 1.24(0.75-2.06)
Yes-Yes n=551 n=594 n=410 186(33.8%) 192(32.3%) 122(29.8%) 1.89(1.46-2.45) 2.47(1.63-3.73) 1.58(1.16-2.15)
Yes-No n=119 n=118 n=77 53(44.5%) 47(39.8%) 26(33.8%) 2.98(1.98-4.48) 1.80(1.38-2.29) 1.90(1.12-3.20)
Interaction 1.37(0.78-2.08) 0.79(0.45-1.38) 0.67(0.33-1.38)

Hand Movement and Work Stress 3,4,5 Compared with No-No

No-No n=491 n=544 n=366 80(16.3%) 106(19.5%) 58(15.9%)
No-Yes n=223 n=238 n=191 56(25.1%) 61(25.6%) 55(28.8%) 1.72(1.17-2.53) 1.42(0.93-2.01) 2.15(1.41-3.27)
Yes-No n=474 n=485 n=307 142(30.0% 133(27.4%) 90(29.3%) 2.20(1.61-3.00) 1.56(1.17-2.09) 2.20(1.52-3.20)
Yes-Yes n=275 n=282 n=178 133(48.4) 133(47.2%) 66(37.1%) 4.81(3.44-6.74) 3.69(2.69-5.09) 3.13(2.07-4.73)
Interaction 1.37(0.77-2.08) 1.66(1.03-2.66) 0.97(0.47-2.00)

Hand Movement and Work Fast Compared with No-No

No-No n=301 n=285 n=193 59(19.6%) 60(21.1%) 31(16.1%)
No-Yes n=412 n=404 n=361 77(18.7%) 107(21.7%) 82(22.7%) 0.94(0.65-1.38) 1.04(0.73-1.48) 1.53(0.97-2.42)
Yes-No n=224 n=216 n=136 83(37.0%) 66(30.1%) 33(24.3%) 2.41(1.63-3.58) 1.65(1.10-2.48) 1.67(0.97-2.90)
Yes-Yes n=524 n=551 n-349 191(36.5%) 200(36.0%) 123(35.2%) 2.35(1.68-3.29) 2.14(1.53-2.98) 2.84(1.83-4.43)
Interaction 1.03 (0.63-1.67) 1.25(0.77-2.04) 1.11(0.58-2.10)

Hand Movement and Work Time Compared with No-Yes

No-Yes n=586 n=652 n=474 110(18.8%) 138(21.2%) 97(20.5%)
No-No n=126 n=123 n=82 26(20.6%) 27(22.0%) 16(19.5%) 1.13(0.70-1.82) 1.04(0.66-1.67) 0.94(0.52-1.70)
Yes-Yes n=601 n=667 n=389 211(35.1%) 196(32.0%) 121(31.1%) 2.34(1.79-3.06) 3.21(2.21-4.66) 1.76(1.29-2.39)
Yes-No n=149 n=69 n=95 64(43.0%) 69(46.3%) 35(36.8%) 2.35(1.68-3.29) 1.75(1.36-2.26) 2.27(1.41-3.64)
Interaction 1.24(0.68-2.26) 1.75(0.97-3.17) 1.37(0.65-2.91)

Physical Effort 3,4,5 and Work Stress 3,4,5 Compared with No-No

No-No n=365 58(15.9%)
No-Yes n=194 51(26.3%) 1.89(1.23-2.89)
Yes-No n=306 89(29.1%) 2.17(1.49-3.15)
Yes-Yes n=175 70(40.0%) 3.53(2.34-5.33)
Interaction 0.86(0.48-1.53)

Physical Effort 3,4,5 and Work Fast Compared with No-No

No-No n=178 32(18.0%)
No-Yes n=372 89(23.9%) 1.45(0.92-2.31)
Yes-No n=151 32(21.2%) 1.72(0.99-2.97)
Yes-Yes n=338 116(34.3%) 3.05(1.95-4.78)
Interaction 1.22 (0.64-2.33)

Physical Effort 3,4,5 and Work Time Compared with No-Yes

No-Yes n=474 97(20.5%)
No-No n=82 16(19.5%) 1.24(0.75-2.06)
Yes-Yes n=389 121(31.1%) 1.90(1.12-3.20)
Yes-No n=95 35(36.8%) 1.58(1.16-2.15)
Interaction 0.97(0.47-2.00)
*

Number of interviewees with usable data.