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- Larsman, Pernilla, 1976, et al.
(author)
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A longitudinal path model of psychological workload, fatigue and neck/shoulder symptoms among female childcare workers.
- 2009
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In: Work. ; 32:2, s. 219-226
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of the present study was to test a path model of the relation between psychological workload and neck/shoulder symptoms with general fatigue as a proposed mediating variable. In this longitudinal two-wave cohort study a questionnaire survey was conducted among female childcare workers. The analyses were based on initially symptom free participants (n=388). Two models were tested, with fatigue at baseline and at follow-up as the proposed mediators, respectively. The results indicate that appraised psychological workload is related to the development of symptoms measured at an 18-month follow-up. The results further indicate that this relation may be partially mediated by general fatigue (also measured at follow-up). The findings of the present study emphasize the importance of the psychosocial workload in the development of neck/shoulder symptoms among childcare workers. This means that in addition to workplace ergonomic interventions it is important also to pay attention to the psychosocial conditions in order to reduce these symptoms.
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- Larsman, Pernilla, 1976
(author)
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On the relation between psychosocial work environment and musculoskeletal symptoms : a structural equation modeling approach
- 2006
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The aim of the present thesis was to investigate the relation between aspects of the psychosocial work environment and musculoskeletal symptoms including the testing of process models of the potential mediating mechanisms of felt stress and perceived fatigue, and the potential moderating mechanism of physical workload. This thesis is based on four empirical studies. Studies I and II were cross sectional studies based on questionnaire surveys among blue-collar workers at Swedish assembly plants and elderly female computer users in four European countries, respectively. Studies III and IV were two-wave longitudinal cohort studies based on questionnaire survey data among elderly- and childcare workers in Swedish human service organizations. In all of these studies, proposed models of the relation between aspects of the psychosocial work environment and musculoskeletal symptoms were tested against empirical data using structural equation modeling (SEM). In general, the results indicate a significant relation between the psychosocial work environment (job demands and psychological workload) and musculoskeletal neck/shoulder and back symptoms. The results further suggest that, although psychological workload seems to be important for the development of symptoms, it may be of less importance for other processes such as recovery from symptoms. Support was found for the hypothesized mediating mechanisms of felt stress and perceived fatigue. No support was however found for the hypothesized interaction effect of psychosocial and physical stressors (psychological and mechanical workload) on musculoskeletal symptoms. In order to enhance our understanding of stress at work and its relation to musculoskeletal symptoms, it is important to continue and to extend the empirical testing of hypothesized process models in this area. It is of crucial importance to investigate the shapes of the unfolding effects and optimal time lags (i.e. how the effects develop over time and what time frames should be considered). Addressing these issues will enable a proper design of data collection and specification of process models to be tested against empirical data.
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- Larsman, Pernilla, 1976, et al.
(author)
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Perceived work demands, felt stress, and musculoskeletal neck/shoulder symptoms among elderly female computer users. The NEW study.
- 2006
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In: European Journal of Applied Physiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1439-6319 .- 1439-6327. ; 96, s. 127-135
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of the present study was to test a structural model of the relationship between the perceived quantitative (time pressure and unevenly distributed workload) and emotional work demands and self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms from the neck and shoulder region with felt stress (rested, relaxed, calm, tense, stressed, and pressured at the end of a normal workday) as a mediating variable. As part of the NEW (Neuromuscular assessment in the Elderly Worker) study, a European case-control study, the present cross-sectional study was based on a questionnaire survey among Danish, Dutch, Swedish and Swiss female computer users aged 45 or older (n = 148). The hypothesized structural model was tested using structural equation modelling. The results indicate that perceived work demands influence neck/shoulder musculoskeletal symptoms through their effect on felt stress. The results further indicate complete mediation, which means that all of the effect of the perceived work demands on symptoms could be attributed to the stress mechanism. As regards the percentage of explained variance in the endogenous variables, 36% of the variation in felt stress was explained by the perceived work demands, and about 20% of the variation in musculoskeletal neck/shoulder symptoms was explained by the combination of the perceived work demands and the felt stress
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- Larsman, Pernilla, 1976, et al.
(author)
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Prognostic factors for intervention effect on neck/shoulder symptom intensity and disability among female computer users
- 2009
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In: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1053-0487 .- 1573-3688. ; 19:3, s. 300-311
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: It has been suggested that treatments may be more effective when they are matched to patient characteristics. This study aimed at investigating potential prognostic factors for clinically relevant improvement in symptom intensity and symptom-related disability among employees with symptoms in the neck/shoulder area, receiving either ergonomics counseling or such counseling in combination with myofeedback training. Methods: A randomized controlled study was performed among female computer users aged 45 or older (n = 36). A clinical examination and a questionnaire survey were performed before inclusion in the study. Symptom intensity and disability was assessed using questionnaires before the start of the interventions (baseline) and at follow-ups directly after the end of the interventions (T0) and after 3 (T3) and 6 (T6) months. Logistis regression analyses were performed in order to assess prognostic factors for clinically relevant improvement in symptom intensity and disability. Results: Improvement in symptom intensity was consistently predicted by symptom intensity at baseline. Diagnosis and stress-induced lack of muscular rest were prognostic factors for improvement in symptom intensity at short-term follow-up. Baseline disability and passive coping consistently served as prognostic factors for outcome in disability. Few substantial differences were found between the interventions in terms of prognostic factors. Conclusions: Myofeedback training in combination with ergonomics counseling seem to be an especially beneficial tool for secondary prevention among employees with moderate levels of symptom intensity and symptom-related disability, who respond to work-related stress by increased/sustained muscle activation, and who tend to employ passive coping to deal with their neck/shoulder symptoms.
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- Larsman, Pernilla, 1976, et al.
(author)
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Psychological and physical workload and the development of musculoskeletal symptoms among female child-care workers.
- 2007
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In: Occupational Ergonomics. ; 4:7, s. 275-287
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim was to test a structural model of the relations between psychological and mechanical workload and musculoskeletal neck/shoulder symptoms. This two-wave longitudinal cohort study was based on a questionnaire survey among Swedish female child-care workers (n = 789). Two models were tested using structural equation modelling, one containing only those participants considered symptom free at baseline, thus focusing on symptom development, and one containing all participants irrespective of their baseline musculoskeletal status. The results indicate that psychological workload was related to the development of neck/shoulder symptoms, and thus highlight the importance of addressing psychosocial work environment factors in organization design and workplace interventions. However, psychological workload was not related to symptoms (when controlling for baseline mechanical workload and symptoms) in the model not distinguishing between different symptoms processes. These findings point to the importance of distinguishing between different processes such as development, maintenance and recovery from symptoms in studies of workplace factors and
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- Larsman, Pernilla, 1976, et al.
(author)
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Psychological and physical workload and the development of musculoskeletal symptoms among female elderly-care workers.
- 2008
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In: The Ergonomics Open Journal. ; 1, s. 34-38
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of the present study was to investigate the relations between psychological and physical workload and musculoskeletal neck, shoulder and upper back symptoms. In this longitudinal two-phase cohort study a survey was conducted among non-managerial female elderly-care workers (n = 553). The analyses were based on respondents who were considered free from the respective symptoms at initial ratings, resulting in study samples of n = 230 for neck symptoms, n = 211 for shoulder symptoms, n = 400 for upper back symptoms, and n = 204 for low back symptoms. The results indicate that psychological workload is related to the development of musculoskeletal (neck and upper back) symptoms measured at an 18-month follow-up, both in itself and in combination with physical workload. The most important finding was that psychological workload shows significant temporal relations to neck and upper back symptoms.
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