Work-related musculoskeletal disorders and digitalization: past adoption, current utilization, and future concerns

The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly accelerated workplace digitalization, significantly heightening concerns about its impact. While the physical risks associated with digitalization, particularly musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), have been widely studied, research on psychosocial factors-especially concerns about future digitalization-remains relatively limited. This study aimed to assess whether concerns about future digitalization are associated with MSDs, while considering past adoption and current utilization of digital technologies. Additionally, it examined the moderating effects of various factors, including socioeconomic and work-related variables, on this relationship.

Data from the 2020 Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS), which included a representative sample of 48,604 workers in South Korea, were analyzed. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the association between concerns about future digitalization and MSDs. The model controlled for past adoption and current utilization of digitalization, as well as other relevant covariates. Furthermore, interaction terms with moderating factors were incorporated to investigate potential moderating effects within the model.

Concerns about future digitalization were significantly associated with the likelihood of MSDs, even after accounting for past adoption and current utilization (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.04-1.14). The impact of these concerns on MSDs was moderated by education level, with higher education levels mitigating the effect (OR: 1.41 for below middle school, 0.85 for high school or college, and 0.71 for university or above).

Recognizing concerns related to future digitalization as a critical psychosocial risk factor is essential, as they influence the development of MSDs. Future research should focus on alleviating these concerns and enhancing workers' resilience in increasingly digitalized work environments. These findings underscore the importance for policymakers and employers to incorporate psychosocial considerations into digital transition strategies and to provide targeted support for vulnerable worker populations.