Prevalence of back pain problems in relation to occupational group

• Relationship between work-related physical and psychosocial factors and back pain.
• The analysis was stratified by occupational group: white and blue-collar workers.
• The less visible aspects of work played a role in the appearance of back pain.
• Work organization, relationships with others and work characteristics were relevant.

Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) constitute a persistent and ongoing public health problem in the active work population. The aim of this paper is to analyze the relationship between work-related physical and psychosocial factors and the occurrence of back pain symptoms related to the occupational group (blue and white collar workers). One thousand, four hundred, and fifty-eight workers from different sectors and socio-professional categories have participated in this study (44.5% men and 55.5% women; 24.3% blue collar workers and 75.7% white collar workers). Data was collected by the INSAT (Work and Health Questionnaire). A quantitative overview was adopted with the use of logistic regression models. The analysis was stratified for each occupational group. Apart from factors of great environmental and physical constraint, other less visible aspects played a role in the occurrence of back pain problems, namely factors linked to work organizational options, relationships with others and some specific work characteristics. Thanks to the present study it was possible to show the interaction between physical factors and psychosocial factors in both occupational groups and thus highlight the specific conditions which cause these problems in both groups of workers.