Is there a gender difference in the effect of work-related physical and psychosocial risk factors on musculoskeletal symptoms and related sickness absence?

Relationship between psychosocial factors and musculoskeletal disorders in footwear industry workers

“…On the other hand, a few psychosocial factors, such as the 'job dissatisfaction', increase the chance of WRMD more significantly in women. The results of Hooftman et al (2009) are similar, because in the men a greater number of psychosocial factors were significantly associated with the onset of WRMD, although that the impact of most factors in increase chance is less than 40%; unlike what occurred in women, where a smaller number of psychosocial factors were associated with WRMD, but the impact of most factors in increase the chance of musculoskeletal disorders is greater than 40%. However, epidemiological studies with large populations still need to be done to explain with greater certainty the difference in results as to gender (Collins & O'Sullivan, 2015).…”

“…For Roquelaure et al (2002) the constraints imposed by work are much more important than the factors of biological order to explain the differences in gender in the relationship between psychosocial factors and WRMD. However, studies Clays et al (2007) in Belgium, Ghaffari et al (2008) in Iran, and Hooftman et al (2009) in Netherlands show that men in many circumstances are more affected by psychosocial factors that women. The Belgian and Iranian study does not explain because the results are different for males and females.…”

“…For organizational factors, studies of de Zwart et al (2001) with workers the same occupational class, and Coury et al (2002) with workers who perform the same function show that different results can be observed in men and women. Still on the organizational factors, Hooftman et al (2009) affirm that exposure to different ways of doing the job is very small or obsolete when analyzed the set of variables present in the day's work. The same author also speaks of the variables related to the human organism, but believes that personal factors, such as the need to be present at home when a child is sick, are more relevant to women, contributing more significantly for the WRMD symptoms.…”

“…Although it is not a consensus in the literature the studies in developed countries attributes to four variables the differences in symptoms of men and women: (1) Biological differences; (2) The increased propensity of women to report symptoms of pain; (3) Women perform household chores and child care that are sources of risk; and (4) work situations are more precarious for women (Wijnhoven et al, 2006). Most studies show that women are more vulnerable to psychosocial factors, however, some recent studies have shown exceptions to this generalization (Clays et al, 2007;Ghaffari et al, 2008;Hooftman et al, 2009). Findings of Kääriäl et al (2011) shows that industrial male workers is a group prone to developing injuries.…”

The demographic and contextual correlates of work‐related repetitive strain injuries among canadian men and women

“…Also lower extremity MSK complaints are higher among women as well [Messing et al, 2008;Messing et al, 2009]. However, less consistent is research examining back complaints, where some studies indicate increased prevalence for women [Krause et al, 1997;de Zwart et al, 1997], while others report increased prevalence for men [Leino-Arjas, 1998;Hooftman et al, 2009].Supporting the notion that work exposures are a major contributing factor for gender differences, some studies examining exposure differences tend to find that MSK complaints are not significantly different when comparing men and women in the same occupational categories or performing the same tasks [Silverstein et al, 1987;Coury et al, 2002; European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, 2003]. However, a review of specific exposures and MSK complaints suggests certain vulnerabilities for both men and women [Hooftman et al, 2004].…”