Work-related musculoskeletal health and social support

Background This review concerns the relationship between inequalities experienced at work with respect to social support (e.g. poor communication channels, unsatisfactory work relationships, unsupportive organizational culture) and work-related musculoskeletal ill-health. Methods Cross-sectional, case control and prospective studies, published between 1985 and 2003, that investigated this association were selected and reviewed. Results Studies varied greatly in the breadth of definitions of social support used and many measures were employed for the collection of data. There is good evidence for an association between poor social support and an increased risk in musculoskeletal morbidity. There is also limited evidence that poor social support is associated with musculoskeletal sickness absence, restricted activity and not returning to work after a musculoskeletal problem. A small number of studies have shown the effects of good social support and its importance in protecting against musculoskeletal ill-health and helping workers cope with problems. Conclusions The overall findings of this review have implications for the design of proactive broad-based prevention programmes and organizational policies for the management of musculoskeletal ill-health and its potential outcomes, i.e. sickness absence and early retirement. Further research, using stronger study designs and more concise definitions of social support, to investigate the importance of social support in the amelioration of musculoskeletal ill-health is identified, e.g. the contribution of social support received away from the workplace.