Effort-Reward Imbalance and Its Association with Musculoskeletal Pain among Information Technology Professionals

Psychosocial factors at the workplace play a significant role in the development of work stress and are associated with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and musculoskeletal disorders. Imbalance due to high effort and low reward at the workplace among information technology (IT) professionals can lead to work stress.

To assess the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) among IT professionals and its association with musculoskeletal pain.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 IT professionals to assess their work-related stress and musculoskeletal pain.

A short version of the ERI questionnaire and Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire was used. Along with the ERI questionnaire, the details on sociodemographic profile, chronic diseases, and substance abuses were ascertained.

Among the study population, the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in any part of the body was 77% in the past one year. Effort-reward imbalance was present in 72% of the study population, and linear regression showed a significant correlation between the effort-reward component with the severity of musculoskeletal score (r = 0.725 P < 0.001). Odds ratio of ERI for musculoskeletal pain was 3.2, 95% CI (2.1-4.7), P < 0.01.

Psychosocial factors at work assessed through ERI appeared to be an important component in the development of musculoskeletal pain among IT professionals.