Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Musculoskeletal pain and re-employment among unemployed job seekers: a three-year follow-up study

Authors: Chioma A. Nwaru, Clas-Håkan Nygård, Pekka Virtanen

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2016

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Poor health is a potential risk factor for not finding employment among unemployed individuals. We investigated the associations between localized and multiple-site musculoskeletal pain and re-employment in a three-year follow-up of unemployed job seekers.

Methods

Unemployed people (n = 539) from six localities in southern Finland who participated in various active labour market policy measures at baseline in 2002/2003 were recruited into a three-year health service intervention trial. A questionnaire was used to collect data on musculoskeletal health and background characteristics at baseline and on employment status at the end of the follow-up. We conducted a complete case (n = 284) and multiple imputation analyses using logistic regression to investigate the association between baseline musculoskeletal pain and re-employment after three years.

Results

Participants with severe pain in the lower back were less likely to become re-employed. This was independent of potential confounding variables. Pain in the hands/upper extremities, neck/shoulders, lower extremities, as well as multiple site were not determinants of re-employment.

Conclusions

Our findings lend some support to the hypothesis that poor health can potentially cause health selection into employment. There is the need to disentangle health problems in order to clearly appreciate their putative impact on employment. This will allow for more targeted interventions for the unemployed.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
McKee-Ryan F, Wanberg CR, Song Z, Kinicki A. Psychological and physical well-being during unemployment: a meta-analytic study. J Appl Psychol. 2005;90(1):53–76.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Marcus J. The effect of unemployment on the mental health of spouses- Evidence from plant closures in Germany. J Health Econ. 2013;32:546–58.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Raatikainen K, Heiskanen N, Heinonen S. Does unemployment in family affect pregnancy outcome in conditions of high quality maternity care? BMC Public Health. 2006;6:46.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
4.
Sleskova M, Salonna F, Madarasova A, Deckova M, et al. Does parental unemployment affect adolescents’ health? J Adolesc Health. 2006;38:527–35.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Kuhn A, Lalive R, Zweimuller J. The public health costs of job loss. J Health Econ. 2009;28:1099–115.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Räisänen S, Kramer MR, Gissler M, Saari J, Heinonen S. Unemployment at municipality level is associated with an increased risk of small for gestational age births- a multilevel analysis of all singleton births during 2005–2010 in Finland. Int J Equity Health. 2014;13:95.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
7.
Maruthappu M, Watkins J, Taylor A, Williams C, Ali R, Zeltner T, Atun R. Unemployment and prostate cancer mortality in the OECD, 1990–2009. ecancer. 2015;9:538.CrossRef
8.
Claussen B. Health and re-employment in a five-year follow-up of long term unemployed. Scand J Public Health. 1999;27(2):94–100.PubMed
9.
Thomas C, Benzeval M, Stansfeld S. Psychological distress after employment transitions: the role of subjective financial position as a mediator. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2007;61:48–52.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
10.
Schuring M, Mackenbach J, Voorham T, Burdorf A. The effect of re-employment on perceived health. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2011;65:639–44.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Carlier BE, Schuring M, Lötters FJB, Bakker B, Borgers N, Burdorf A. The influence of re-employment on quality of life and self-rated health, a longitudinal study among unemployed persons in the Netherlands. BMC Public Health. 2013;13:503.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
12.
Stewart JM. The impact of health status on the duration of unemployment spells and the implications for studies of the impact of unemployment on health status. J Health Econ. 2001;781–796.
13.
Claussen B, Bjorndal A, Hjort PF. Health and re-employment in a two year follow up of long term unemployed. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1993;47:14–8.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
14.
Vesalainen J, Vuori J. Job-seeking, adaptation and re-employment experiences of the unemployed: a 3-year follow-up. J Community Appl Soc Psychol. 1999;9:383–94.CrossRef
15.
García-Gόmez P, Jones AM, Rice N. Health effects on labor market exits and entries. Labour Econ. 2010;17:62–76.CrossRef
16.
van de Mheen H, Stronks K, Schrijvers CTM, Mackenbach JP. The influence of adult ill health on occupational mobility and mobility out of and into employment in The Netherlands. Soc Sci Med. 1999;49:509–18.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Schuring M, Mackenbach J, Voorham T, Burdorf A. The effects of ill health on entering and maintaining paid employment: evidence in European countries. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2007;61:597–604.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
18.
Schuring M, Robroek SJM, Otten Ferdy WJ, Arts CH, Burdorf A. The effect of ill health and socioeconomic status on labor force exit and re-employment: a prospective study with ten years follow-up in the Netherlands. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2013;39(2):134–43.CrossRefPubMed
19.
Lötters F, Carlier B, Bakker B, Borgers N, Schuring M, Burdorf A. The influence of perceived health on labor participation among long term unemployed. J Occup Rehabil. 2013;23:300–8.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Wagenaar AF, Kompier MAJ, Houtman ILD, van den Bossche SNJ, Taris TW. Who gets fired, who gets hired: the role of workers’ contract, age, health, work ability, performace, work satisfaction and employee investments. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2015;88:321–34.CrossRefPubMed
21.
Neupane S, Miranda H, Virtanen P, Siukola A, Nyygård CH. Multi-site pain and work ability among industrial population. Occup Med. 2011;61(8):563–9.CrossRef
22.
Lindegård A, Larsman P, Hadzibajramovic E, Ahlborg Jr G. The influence of perceived stress and musculoskeletal pain on work performance and work ability in Swedish health care workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2014;87:373–9.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Morken T, Riise T, Moen B, et al. Low back pain and widespread pain predict sickness absence among industrial workers. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2003;4:21.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
24.
Miranda H, Kaila-kangas L, Heliövaara M, et al. Musculoskeletal pain at multiple sites and its effects on work ability in a general working population. Occup Environ Med. 2010;67:449–55.CrossRefPubMed
25.
Solomon C, Poole J, Palmer KT, Coggon D. Health-related job loss: findings from a community-based survey. Occup Environ Med. 2007;64:144–9.CrossRefPubMed
26.
Straaton KV, Maisiak R, Wrigley JM, White MB, Johnson P, Fine PR. Barriers to return to work among persons unemployed due to arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders. Arthritis Rheum. 1996;101–109.
27.
Yelin ED, Trupin LS, Sebesta DS. Transitions in employment, morbidity, and disability among persons ages 51–61 with musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal conditions in the US, 1992–1994. Arthritis Rheum. 1999;42(4):769–79.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Romppainen K, Saloniemi A, Kinnunen U, Liukkonen V, Virtanen P. Does provision of targeted health care for the unemployed enhance re-employment? BMC Public Health. 2014;14:1200.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
29.
Kuorinka I, Jonsson B, Kilbom A, et al. Standardized Nordic Questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms. Appl Ergon. 1987;18:233–7.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Beck AT, Wald CH, Mendelson M, Mock J, Erbaugh J. An inventory for measuring depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1961;4:53–63.CrossRef
31.
Skärlund M, Åhs A, Westerling R. Health-related and social factors predicting non-reemployment amongst newly unemployed. BMS Public Health. 2012;12:893.CrossRef
32.
Carlier BE, Schuring M, van Lenthe FJ, Burdorf A. Influence of health on job search behavior and re-employment: the role of job-search cognitions and coping resources. J Occup Rehabil. 2014;24:670–9.CrossRefPubMed
33.
Caetano R, Ramisetty-Mikler S, McGrath C. Characteristics of non-respondents in a US national longitudinal survey on drinking and intimate partner violence. Addiction. 2003;98:791–7.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Drivsholm T, Falgaard EL, Davidsen M, Jørgensen TI, Hollnage H, Borch-Johnsen K. Representativeness in population-based studies: a detailed description of non-response in a Danish cohort study. Scand J Public Health. 2006;34(6):623–31.CrossRefPubMed
35.
Natvig B, Eriksen W, Bruusgaard D. Low back pain as a predictor of long-term work disability. Scand J Public Health. 2002;30(4):288–92.CrossRefPubMed
36.
Neupane S, Virtanen P, Leino-Arjas P, Miranda H, Siukola A, Nygård C-H. Multi-site pain and working conditions as predictors of work ability in a 4-year follow-up among industry employees. Eur J Pain. 2013;17(3):444–51.CrossRefPubMed
37.
Virtanen P, Janlert U, Hammarstöm A. Health status and health behavior as predictors of the occurrence of unemployment and prolonged unemployment. Public Health. 2013;127:46–52.CrossRefPubMed
38.
39.
Theodossiou I. The effects of low-pay and unemployment on psychological well-being: a logistic regression approach. J Health Econ. 1998;17:85–104.CrossRefPubMed
40.
41.
Gupta G, Nandini N. Prevalence of low back pain in non-working rural housewives of Kampur, India. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2015;28(2):313–20.PubMed
42.
Haukka E, Kaila-Kangas L, Ojajärvi A, Miranda H, Karppinen J, Viikari-Juntura E, et al. Pain in multiple sites and sickness absence trajectories: a prospective study among Finns. Pain. 2013;154(2):306–12.CrossRefPubMed
43.
Metadata
Title
Musculoskeletal pain and re-employment among unemployed job seekers: a three-year follow-up study
Authors
Chioma A. Nwaru
Clas-Håkan Nygård
Pekka Virtanen
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3200-0

Other articles of this Issue 1/2016

BMC Public Health 1/2016 Go to the issue

Research article

Body image mediates the depressive effects of weight gain in new mothers, particularly for women already obese: evidence from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study

Research article

Improvements in life expectancy among Australians due to reductions in smoking: Results from a risk percentiles approach

Research article

Community readiness for adolescents’ overweight and obesity prevention is low in urban South Africa: a case study

Research article

Adaptation and standardization of a Western tool for assessing child development in non-Western low-income context

Research article

Modelling input-output flows of severe acute respiratory syndrome in mainland China

Research article

Go!: results from a quasi-experimental obesity prevention trial with hospital employees