Table 3.
Characteristics of the study sample
| Variable | |
|---|---|
| Age (years), mean (SD) | 45.5 (15.0) |
| Body mass index (kg/m2), mean (SD) | 27.2 (5.5) |
| Female, no (%) | 29 (58%) |
| Family status | |
| Living alone, no (%) | 14 (28%) |
| Living with partner, no (%) | 17 (33%) |
| Living with partner/parents and children, no (%) | 17 (33%) |
| Living with children, no (%) | 3 (6%) |
| Education | |
| 10 years, no (%) | 1 (2%) |
| 12 years, no (%) | 14 (27%) |
| 13 years or more, no (%) | 36 (71%) |
| Employment | |
| Full-time, no (%) | 30 (59%) |
| Part-time, no (%) | 7 (14%) |
| Full-time housework, no (%) | 1 (2%) |
| Compulsory military service, no (%) | 3 (6%) |
| Retired, no (%) | 4 (8%) |
| Other, no (%) | 6 (12%) |
| Work characteristics* (n = 38) | |
| Sitting, no (%) | 19 (50%) |
| Walking, no (%) | 8 (21%) |
| Walking and lifting, no (%) | 10 (26%) |
| Heavy physical labor, no (%) | 1 (3%) |
| LBP, duration of current episode | |
| 1 week, no (%) | 9 (18%) |
| 4 weeks, no (%) | 2 (4%) |
| 12 weeks, no (%) | 10 (20%) |
| More than 12 weeks, no (%) | 30 (58%) |
| LBP, frequency within past year | |
| 7 days, no (%) | 2 (4%) |
| 30 days, no (%) | 9 (18%) |
| Above 30 days, no (%) | 22 (43%) |
| Every day, no (%) | 18 (35%) |
| Use of pain medication | |
| Never or seldom, no (%) | 28 (55%) |
| Less than once weekly, no (%) | 12 (25%) |
| Weekly, no (%) | 5 (10%) |
| Daily, no (%) | 6 (12%) |
*The question about work ability was only asked to participants who reported to be in full-time or part-time work
SD standard deviation, LBP low back pain