Life satisfaction of workers with work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Brazil: Associations with symptoms, functional limitation and coping

Introduction: This study aimed at analyzing the contribution of socio-demographic, clinical, functional and psychosocial variables toward life satisfaction among workers with Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSD). Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 155 workers suffering from WMSD in one or both upper extremities, with time since the onset of the health condition longer than six months. Most of the workers were women (85%) between 30 and 49 years of age (77%) and predominantly manual laborers with elementary education level. Main Outcome Measures: Structured form for socio-demographic and clinical identification of the participants, the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire, the Ways of Coping Scale and the Satisfaction With Life Scale. Results: Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was employed and the final model explained 23% of the variance regarding life satisfaction (adjusted R-2 = 0.21; p = 0.0001). Single workers and those reporting higher levels of emotion-focused and lower levels of problem-focused coping reported lower life satisfaction. The strategies with which an individual copes with the disease had an influence on the level of life satisfaction regardless of the functional condition. Conclusions: In the sample studied, the strongest predictors of life satisfaction were the psychosocial variables, represented by coping strategies regarding the disease. Interventions directed at workers with WMSD that seek to promote well-being should favor coping in the most adaptive manner, going beyond the clinical realm of the disease.