Top

Published in:

Open Access 01-04-2019

A prospective study of work–private life conflict and number of pain sites: moderated mediation by sleep problems and support

Authors: Jolien Vleeshouwers, Stein Knardahl, Jan Olav Christensen

Published in: Journal of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 2/2019

Abstract

The objective of the current study was to elucidate how work–private life conflict prospectively affects musculoskeletal pain complaints by exploring possible mediation through sleep problems. In addition, the study determined whether support from coworkers and superior moderate this mediated relationship. The study incorporated a two-wave full panel design and participants included 4681 Norwegian working men and women. Path analyses were performed to study direct and indirect effects of work–private life conflict on sleep problems and multisite musculoskeletal pain, moderated by support. This study suggested time-lagged relationships of work–private life conflict with number of pain sites. Furthermore, sleep problems may mediate the effects of work–private life conflict on number of pain sites. While support has been found to affect the direct relationship between work–private life conflict and number of pain sites, it does not significantly moderate the indirect mediation effect, i.e. no moderated mediation effect of support was established. Findings from the present study suggest sleep may be one explaining factor in the complex work–pain mechanism, and this may aid the development of theories on work–private life conflict and pain. Since both work–private life conflict and support are modifiable work factors, primary workplace interventions by the employer aiming to reduce sleep problems and musculoskeletal pain in employees could target these specific work factors, and help prevent work-related pain complaints.

Available only for authorised users

Abendroth, A. K., & den Dulk, L. (2011). Support for the work-life balance in Europe: The impact of state, workplace and family support on work-life balance satisfaction. Work, Employment & Society, 25, 234–256. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017011398892 CrossRef

Aili, K., Nyman, T., Svartengren, M., & Hillert, L. (2015). Sleep as a predictive factor for the onset and resolution of multi-site pain: A 5-year prospective study. European Journal of Pain, 19, 341–349. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.552 CrossRefPubMed

Akerstedt, T., Knutsson, A., Westerholm, P., Theorell, T., Alfredsson, L., & Kecklund, G. (2002). Sleep disturbances, work stress and work hours: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 53, 741–748.CrossRefPubMed

Allen, T. D., French, K. A., Dumani, S., & Shockley, K. M. (2015). Meta-analysis of work–family conflict mean differences: Does national context matter? Journal of Vocational Behavior, 90, 90–100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2015.07.006 CrossRef

Alsaadi, S. M., McAuley, J. H., Hush, J. M., Lo, S., Bartlett, D. J., Grunstein, R. R., et al. (2014). The bidirectional relationship between pain intensity and sleep disturbance/quality in patients with low back pain. Clinical Journal of Pain, 30, 755–765. https://doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0000000000000055 CrossRefPubMed

Barnes, C. M., Wagner, D. T., & Ghumman, S. (2012). Borrowing from sleep to pay work and family: Expanding time-based conflict to the broader nonwork domain. Personnel Psychology, 65, 789–819. https://doi.org/10.1111/peps.12002 CrossRef

Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator mediator variable distinction in social psychological-research—Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173–1182. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.51.6.1173 CrossRefPubMed

Berntsson, L., Lundberg, U., & Krantz, G. (2006). Gender differences in work–home interplay and symptom perception among Swedish white-collar employees. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 60, 1070–1076. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2005.042192 CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Bonde, J. P. E. (2008). Psychosocial factors at work and risk of depression: A systematic review of the epidemiological evidence. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 65, 438–445. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.2007.038430 CrossRefPubMed

Bongers, P. M., Dewinter, C. R., Kompier, M. A. J., & Hildebrandt, V. H. (1993). Psychosocial factors at work and musculoskeletal disease. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 19, 297–312.CrossRef

Christensen, J. O., & Knardahl, S. (2010). Work and neck pain: A prospective study of psychological, social, and mechanical risk factors. Pain, 151, 162–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2010.07.001 CrossRefPubMed

Christensen, J. O., & Knardahl, S. (2012). Work and back pain: A prospective study of psychological, social and mechanical predictors of back pain severity. European Journal of Pain (London, England), 16(6), 921–933. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1532-2149.2011.00091.x CrossRef

Coggon, D., Ntani, G., Palmer, K. T., Felli, V. E., Harari, R., Barrero, L. H., et al. (2013). Patterns of multisite pain and associations with risk factors. Pain, 154, 1769–1777. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2013.05.039 CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Cole, D. A., & Maxwell, S. E. (2003). Testing mediational models with longitudinal data: Questions and tips in the use of structural equation modeling. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 112, 558–577. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843x.112.4.558 CrossRefPubMed

Crain, T. L., Hammer, L. B., Bodner, T., Kossek, E. E., Moen, P., Lilienthal, R., et al. (2014). work–family conflict, family-supportive supervisor behaviors (FSSB), and sleep outcomes. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 19, 155–167. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0036010 CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Crompton, R., & Lyonette, C. (2006). Work-life ‘balance’ in Europe. Acta Sociologica, 49, 379–393. https://doi.org/10.1177/0001699306071680 CrossRef

Dallner, M., Elo, A. L., Gamberale, F., Hottinen, V., Knardahl, S., Lindström, K., et al. (2000). Validation of the General Nordic Questionnaire (QPSNordic) for psychological and social factors at work (p. 12). Nord: Nordic Council of Ministers.

Davis, K. G., & Heaney, C. A. (2000). The relationship between psychosocial work characteristics and low back pain: Underlying methodological issues. Clinical Biomechanics (Bristol, Avon), 15(6), 389–406.CrossRef

Dean, L. E., Arnold, L., Crofford, L., Bennett, R., Goldenberg, D., Fitzcharles, M.-A., et al. (2017). The impact of moving from a widespread to multi-site pain definition on other fibromyalgia symptoms. Arthritis Care & Research. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.23214 CrossRef

Demerouti, E., Derks, D., ten Brummelhuis, L. L., & Bakker, A. B. (2014). New ways of working: Impact on working conditions, work–family balance, and well-being. In C. Korunka & P. Hoonakker (Eds.), The impact of ICT on quality of working life (pp. 123–141). Dordrecht: Springer.CrossRef

Doi, Y., Minowa, M., & Tango, T. (2003). Impact and correlates of poor sleep quality in Japanese white-collar employees. Sleep, 26, 467–471. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/26.4.467 CrossRefPubMed

Eriksen, W., Bruusgaard, D., & Knardahl, S. (2004). Work factors as predictors of intense or disabling low back pain; A prospective study of nurses’ aides. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 61, 398–404.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Finan, P. H., Goodin, B. R., & Smith, M. T. (2013). The association of sleep and pain: An update and a path forward. Journal of Pain, 14, 1539–1552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2013.08.007 CrossRefPubMed

Frone, M. R. (2003). Work–family balance. In J. C. Quick & L. E. Tetric (Eds.), Handbook of occupational health psychology (pp. 143–162). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.CrossRef

Ganster, D. C., Fusilier, M. R., & Mayes, B. T. (1986). Role of social support in the experience of stress at work. Journal of Applied Psychology, 71, 102–110. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.71.1.102 CrossRefPubMed

Grant-Vallone, E. J., & Donaldson, S. I. (2001). Consequences of work–family conflict on employee well-being over time. Work and Stress, 15, 214–226. https://doi.org/10.1080/02678370110066544 CrossRef

Haack, M., Sanchez, E., & Mullington, J. M. (2007). Elevated inflammatory markers in response to prolonged sleep restriction are associated with increased pain experience in healthy volunteers. Sleep, 30, 1145–1152.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Hammig, O., & Bauer, G. F. (2014). Work, work-life conflict and health in an industrial work environment. Occupational Medicine (Oxford, England), 64(1), 34–38. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqt127 CrossRef

Hammig, O., Gutzwiller, F., & Bauer, G. (2009). Work-life conflict and associations with work- and nonwork-related factors and with physical and mental health outcomes: A nationally representative cross-sectional study in Switzerland. BMC Public Health, 9, 435. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-9-435 CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Harvey, A. G., Stinson, K., Whitaker, K. L., Moskovitz, D., & Virk, H. (2008). The subjective meaning of sleep quality: A comparison of individuals with and without insomnia. Sleep, 31, 383–393.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Haukka, E., Kaila-Kangas, L., Ojajarvi, A., Miranda, H., Karppinen, J., Viikari-Juntura, E., et al. (2013). Pain in multiple sites and sickness absence trajectories: A prospective study among Finns. Pain, 154, 306–312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2012.11.003 CrossRefPubMed

Hayes, A. F. (2013). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach. New York: Guilford Press.

Hayes, A. F., & Scharkow, M. (2013). The relative trustworthiness of inferential tests of the indirect effect in statistical mediation analysis: Does method really matter? Psychological Science, 24, 1918–1927. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797613480187 CrossRefPubMed

Hobfoll, S. E., Freedy, J., Lane, C., & Geller, P. (1990). Conservation of social resources—Social support resource theory. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 7, 465–478. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407590074004 CrossRef

Hoogendoorn, W. E., van Poppel, M. N. M., Bongers, P. M., Koes, B. W., & Bouter, L. M. (2000). Systematic review of psychosocial factors at work and private life as risk factors for back pain. Spine, 25, 2114–2125. https://doi.org/10.1097/00007632-200008150-00017 CrossRefPubMed

Jacobsen, H. B., Reme, S. E., Sembajwe, G., Hopcia, K., Stoddard, A. M., Kenwood, C., et al. (2014). Work–family conflict, psychological distress, and sleep deficiency among patient care workers. Workplace Health & Safety, 62, 282–291. https://doi.org/10.3928/21650799-20140617-04 CrossRef

Kamaleri, Y., Natvig, B., Ihlebaek, C. M., Benth, J. S., & Bruusgaard, D. (2008a). Number of pain sites is associated with demographic, lifestyle, and health-related factors in the general population. European Journal of Pain, 12, 742–748. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpain.2007.11.005 CrossRefPubMed

Kamaleri, Y., Natvig, B., Ihlebaek, C. M., & Bruusgaard, D. (2008b). Localized or widespread musculoskeletal pain: Does it matter? Pain, 138, 41–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2007.11.002 CrossRefPubMed

Kamaleri, Y., Natvig, B., Ihlebaek, C. M., & Bruusgaard, D. (2009). Does the number of musculoskeletal pain sites predict work disability? A 14-year prospective study. European Journal of Pain, 13, 426–430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpain.2008.05.009 CrossRefPubMed

Kim, S. S., Okechukwu, C. A., Buxton, O. M., Dennerlein, J. T., Boden, L. I., Hashimoto, D. M., et al. (2013). Association between work–family conflict and musculoskeletal pain among hospital patient care workers. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 56, 488–495. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.22120 CrossRefPubMed

Kossek, E. E., Pichler, S., Bodner, T., & Hammer, L. B. (2011). Workplace social support and work–family conflict: A meta-analysis clarifying the influence of general and work–family-specific supervisor and organizational support. Personnel Psychology, 64, 289–313. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2011.01211.x CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Kvande, E. E. (2009). Work-life balance for fathers in globalized knowledge work. Some insights from the Norwegian context. Gender, Work and Organization, 16, 58–72.CrossRef

Lallukka, T., Rahkonen, O., Lahelma, E., & Arber, S. (2010). Sleep complaints in middle-aged women and men: The contribution of working conditions and work–family conflicts. Journal of Sleep Research, 19, 466–477. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2869.2010.00821.x CrossRefPubMed

Lee, H., Hubscher, M., & McAuley, J. H. (2016). The implications of using binary outcomes in mediation analysis. Journal of Pain, 17, 1045–1046. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2016.03.007 CrossRefPubMed

Lindström, K. (2000). User’s guide for the QPSNordic: General Nordic questionnaire for psychological and social factors at work. Copenhagen: Nordic Council of Ministers.

Little, T. D. (2013). Longitudinal structural equation modeling. New York: The Guilford Press.

Magnusson Hanson, L. L., Chungkham, H. S., Åkerstedt, T., & Westerlund, H. (2014). The role of sleep disturbances in the longitudinal relationship between psychosocial working conditions, measured by work demands and support, and depression. Sleep, 37, 1977–1985. https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.4254 CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Matre, D., Hu, L., Viken, L. A., Hjelle, I. B., Wigemyr, M., Knardahl, S., et al. (2015). Experimental sleep restriction facilitates pain and electrically induced cortical responses. Sleep, 38, 1607–1617. https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.5058 CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Miranda, H., Kaila-Kangas, L., Heliovaara, M., Leino-Arjas, P., Haukka, E., Liira, J., et al. (2010). Musculoskeletal pain at multiple sites and its effects on work ability in a general working population. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 67, 449–455. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.2009.048249 CrossRefPubMed

Moldofsky, H. (2001). Sleep and pain. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 5, 385–396. https://doi.org/10.1053/smrv.2001.0179 CrossRefPubMed

Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (1998–2012). Mplus user’s guide (7th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Muthén & Muthén.

Muthen, B. O., Muthen, L. K., & Asparouhov, T. (2016). Regression and mediation analysis using Mplus. Los Angeles: Muthen & Muthen.

Nakata, A., Haratani, T., Takahashi, M., Kawakami, N., Arito, H., Kobayashi, F., et al. (2004). Job stress, social support, and prevalence of insomnia in a population of Japanese daytime workers. Social Science and Medicine, 59, 1719–1730. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2004.02.002 CrossRefPubMed

Neupane, S., Miranda, H., Virtanen, P., Siukola, A., & Nygard, C. H. (2013). Do physical or psychosocial factors at work predict multi-site musculoskeletal pain? A 4-year follow-up study in an industrial population. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 86, 581–589. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-012-0792-2 CrossRefPubMed

OECD. (2015). How’s life? 2015: Measuring well-being. Paris: OECD Publishing.CrossRef

Olson, R., Crain, T. L., Bodner, T. E., King, R., Hammer, L. B., Klein, L. C., et al. (2015). A workplace intervention improves sleep: Results from the randomized controlled work, family, and health study. Sleep Health, 1, 55–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2014.11.003 CrossRefPubMed

Paananen, M. (2011). Multi-site musculoskeletal pain in adolescence: Occurrence, determinants, and consequences. Oulu: University of Oulu.

Schmidt, C. O., & Baumeister, S. E. (2007). Simple patterns behind complex spatial pain reporting? Assessing a classification of multisite pain reporting in the general population. Pain, 133, 174–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2007.04.022 CrossRefPubMed

Shrout, P. E., & Bolger, N. (2002). Mediation in experimental and nonexperimental studies: New procedures and recommendations. Psychological Methods, 7, 422–445. https://doi.org/10.1037//1082-989x.7.4.422 CrossRefPubMed

Sivertsen, B., Lallukka, T., Petrie, K. J., Steingrimsdottir, O. A., Stubhaug, A., & Nielsen, C. S. (2015). Sleep and pain sensitivity in adults. Pain, 156, 1433–1439. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000131 CrossRefPubMed

Solidaki, E., Chatzi, L., Bitsios, P., Markatzi, I., Plana, E., Castro, F., et al. (2010). Work related and psychological determinants of multi-site musculoskeletal pain. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 36, 54–61.CrossRef

Tingley, D., Yamamoto, T., Hirose, K., Keele, L., & Imai, K. (2014). mediation: R package for causal mediation analysis. Journal of Statistical Software, 59, 1–38.CrossRef

Vleeshouwers, J., Knardahl, S., & Christensen, J. O. (2016). Effects of psychological and social work factors on self-reported sleep disturbance and difficulties initiating sleep. Sleep, 39, 833–846.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Williams, A., Franche, R. L., Ibrahim, S., & Mustard, C. A. (2006). Examining the relationship between work–family spillover and sleep quality. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 11, 27–37. https://doi.org/10.1037/1076-8998.11.1.27 CrossRefPubMed

Wolfe, F., Clauw, D. J., Fitzcharles, M. A., Goldenberg, D. L., Katz, R. S., Mease, P., et al. (2010). The American College of Rheumatology preliminary diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia and measurement of symptom severity. Arthritis Care & Research (Hoboken), 62, 600–610. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.20140 CrossRef

Woolf, A. D., & Pfleger, B. (2003). Burden of major musculoskeletal conditions. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 81, 646–656.PubMedPubMedCentral

Title: A prospective study of work–private life conflict and number of pain sites: moderated mediation by sleep problems and support
Authors: Jolien Vleeshouwers
Stein Knardahl
Jan Olav Christensen
Publication date: 01-04-2019
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 2/2019
Print ISSN: 0160-7715
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3521
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-018-9957-0

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

A prospective study of work–private life conflict and number of pain sites: moderated mediation by sleep problems and support

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 2/2019

Participant and interventionist perceptions of challenges during behavioral weight loss treatment

The relationship of weight suppression to treatment outcomes during behavioral weight loss

The combination of health anxiety and somatic symptoms: a prospective predictor of healthcare usage in primary care

The association between symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder and appointment adherence, overnight hospitalization, and emergency department/urgent care visits among adults living with HIV enrolled in care

Aspects of the parent–child relationship and parent metabolic outcomes

Correction to: Health care providers’ support of patients’ autonomy, phosphate medication adherence, race and gender in end-stage renal disease