Discomfort glare and psychological stress during computer work: subjective responses and associations between neck pain and trapezius muscle blood flow

Abstract

Exposure to additional environmental stress during computer work, such as visual and psychological demands, is associated with increased eye and neck discomfort, altered moods, and reduced well-being. The aim of this study is to elucidate further how subjective responses in healthy, young females with normal binocular vision are affected by glare and psychological stress during computer work, and to investigate possible associations between trapezius muscle blood flow and neck pain development. Methods Forty-three females participated in a laboratory experiment with a within-subject design. Four ten-minute computer work conditions with exposure to different stressors were performed at an ergonomically optimal workstation, under the following series of conditions: no additional stress, visual stress (induced as direct glare from a large glare source), psychological stress, and combined visual and psychological stress. Before and immediately after each computer work condition, questionnaires regarding different visual and eye symptoms, neck and shoulder symptoms, positive and negative state moods, perceived task difficulty, and perceived ambient lighting were completed. Associations between neck pain and trapezius muscle blood flow were also investigated. Results Exposure to direct glare induced greater development of visual/eye symptoms and discomfort, while psychological stress exposure made participants feel more negative and stressed. The perception of work lighting during glare exposure was closely related to perceived stress, and associations between visual discomfort and eyestrain, and neck pain were observed in all conditions. Furthermore, participants with high trapezius muscle blood flow overall reported more neck pain, independent of exposure. Conclusions Exposure to visual and psychological stresses during computer work affects the development of symptoms and negative moods in healthy, young females with normal binocular vision, but in different ways. The results also demonstrate the complex interactions involved in symptom development and lighting appraisal during computer work. When optimizing computer workstations, the complexity of the field must be taken into account, and several factors, including visual conditions, must be considered carefully.

Neck pain: global epidemiology, trends and risk factors

“…Stress is related to pain and disability [ 14 , 15 ]. Perceived stress is a risk factor for neck pain [ 19 , 22 ]. At least two investigations, with fair methodological quality, have found that adolescents with neck pain had significantly more symptoms of stress than adolescents without neck pain, and that permanent and/or regular feelings of stress was significantly associated with an increased odds of reporting neck pain [ 23 ].…”

“…There is some evidence that high skill discretion has a protective effect from neck pain [ 2 ]. However, working with a computer is considered to be an occupational condition that causes neck pain [ 19 ]. Several factors have been suggested to play key roles in the development of computer-related neck pain, including posture, duration working at a computer, psychological stress, repetitive movements, prolonged static loads, and the psychosocial effects of the working environment [ 19 ].…”

“…However, working with a computer is considered to be an occupational condition that causes neck pain [ 19 ]. Several factors have been suggested to play key roles in the development of computer-related neck pain, including posture, duration working at a computer, psychological stress, repetitive movements, prolonged static loads, and the psychosocial effects of the working environment [ 19 ]. Furthermore, there is also an association between neck pain and eyestrain, regardless of other conditions [ 19 ].…”

Impacts of home lighting on human health

“…[1][2][3][4]106 Discomfort glare has also been linked with adverse effects on mood and wellbeing. 107 Notwithstanding that discomfort glare varies within the same space depending on the position and direction of view, 108 there are also significant individual differences in sensitivity. Some people may be unaware of, or undisturbed by, glaring lighting, whilst others in the same space may experience discomfort symptoms.…”

Is the combination of exercise therapy and health education more effective than usual medical care in the prevention of non-specific back pain? A systematic review with meta-analysis

“…It is essential to know the risk factors associated with NBP in order to prevent it, with the aim of reducing the serious socioeconomic repercussions caused by NBP [ 8 ]. This condition presents a multifactorial approach: sedentary lifestyle [ 9 ], obesity [ 10 ], lack of muscle strength [ 11 , 12 ], lack of flexibility [ 13 ] and psychosocial [ 14 , 15 ] and work-related factors [ 16 , 17 ].…”