Back symptoms and psychological perception of work. A study among nursing aides in a geriatric hospital

233 nursing aides in a geriatric hospital were interviewed about back symptoms and asked to fill in a questionnaire about their psychological perception of their work. Seven psychological scales and a variable of the overall satisfaction with the job were tested against the presence/absence of cervical, thoracic and low-back symptoms. Nursing aides with thoracic and low-back symptoms exhibited in general a lower level of overall satisfaction with the job, perceived more negative relations with supervisors and workmates and perceived greater strain and a greater demand for physical and psychic strength. The psychological perception of the work was, however, only partly related to the presence/absence of back symptoms.