Association of personality types and musculoskeletal disorders in administrative staff of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

Background and Objectives: Nowadays, musculoskeletal disorders are the most common harmful factors in workplaces. Non-ergonomic work stations and poor design of jobs in workplaces have caused both industrial and non-industrial workers to be exposed to risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders. In addition to physical factors, psychological factors have a significant impact on the prevalence of these disorders. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between personality types, as a psychological risk factor, and musculoskeletal disorders among the administrative staff of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 350 administrative staff of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences selected through multi-stage random sampling in 2016. The study data were collected using a demographic checklist, personality type questionnaire, and Nordic musculoskeletal disorders questionnaire. After obtaining written informed consents, the participants were asked to complete the study questionnaires and checklist. Results: The participants’ ages ranged from 22 to 62 years, with the mean age of 36.4 years. In addition, nearly 60% of the participants were female. The frequency of disorders was higher in females than in males (p<0.05). The most frequent disorders were related to waist, knees, and neck (35%, 30%, and 25%, respectively). Moreover, a significant relationship was found between personality type and musculoskeletal disorders at the time of investigation (p=0.010) and within the past 12 months (p=0.038). Conclusion: The results showed a significant relationship between personality type and risk of musculoskeletal disorders. This should be taken into consideration while policymaking, selecting individuals, and professional staff training.

کلیدواژه ها:

musculoskeletal disorders ، MSDs ، personality types