The Development of a Structural Model on Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders of Women Workers

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop and test a structural model on work-related musculoskeletal disorders of women workers. METHOD: Data were collected from 237 women workers from industries such as electronics, food production and garment production, and analyzed by LISREL 8.54. RESULT: The fitness indices of the model are GFI=.87, NNFI=.91, PNFI=.74. Eight out of the ten paths were proved to be statistically significant: work environment-->social support, work environment-->health behavior, work environment-->WMSDs, domestic work-->health behavior, social support-->health behavior, social support-->job satisfaction, health behavior-->job satisfaction, and job satisfaction-->WMSDs. Work environment, social support, health behavior and job satisfaction significantly influenced WRMDs. WRMDs were accounted for 35% by the predictor variables. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study identifies that work environment, social support, health behavior and job satisfaction are important factors affecting WMSDs. Therefore, in order to prevent WRMDs, it is most important to improve both physical work environment for female workers such as appropriate work station and tools fit for them and psychological environment such as less job demand and more decision latitude(worker control).