The mediating role of physical activity and sedentary behavior in the association between working from home and musculoskeletal pain during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic has been associated both with physical inactivity and musculoskeletal pain. However, it has not been examined whether physical activity and sedentary behavior are underlying mechanisms in the association between working from home and musculoskeletal pain. Therefore, we examined their mediating role in this association. Methods: Data were used from 24 questionnaire rounds of the Lifelines COVID-19 cohort (March 2020-January 2022). Longitudinal information on work situation (location, home, hybrid), physical activity, sedentary behavior, and musculoskeletal pain was collected among 28,586 workers. Analysis of physical activity/sedentary behavior as mediators of the association between working from home and musculoskeletal pain was performed using multilevel structural equation modeling. Results: Home workers more often had pain in the upper back [odds ratio (OR) = 1.17, 95%-confidence interval (CI) = 1.02-1.34] and arm, neck, and/or shoulder (ANS) (OR = 1.32, 95%-CI = 1.19-1.47) than location workers. Furthermore, home workers were more often sedentary for >9 h per work day than location workers (OR = 2.82, 95%-CI = 2.56-3.09), and being more sedentary was associated with musculoskeletal pain (upper back: OR = 1.17, 95%-CI = 1.06-1.30; ANS: OR = 1.25, 95%-CI = 1.16-1.34). Corresponding indirect effects were OR = 1.18 (95%-CI = 1.04-1.33) and OR = 1.26 (95%-CI = 1.12-1.35). No indirect effect was found for physical activity. Similar indirect effects were observed for hybrid workers. Conclusion: Home and hybrid workers were more likely to have pain in the upper musculoskeletal system during the COVID-19 pandemic than location workers, which was partly mediated by increased sedentary behavior, but not by reduced physical activity. Measures to reduce sedentary time in home workers may contribute to preventing musculoskeletal pain.

Evaluation of the mental health of care home staff in the Covid-19 era. What price did care home workers pay for standing by their patients?

BACKGROUND: The characteristics of this pandemic increase the potential psychological impact on care homes workers (CHWs). The aims of this study were to analyse the mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of a broad sample of CHWs in Spain and to identify potential factors that have a significant effect on their mental health and HRQoL. METHOD: This descriptive study comprised 210 CHWs who completed the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Impact Event Scale-Revised, the Insomnia Severity Index, and the Health-related Quality of Life Questionnaire. Sociodemographic and clinical data in relation to COVID-19 were also recorded. Descriptive statistics, univariable analysis and multivariable linear regression models were applied to identify factors associated with mental health and HRQoL. RESULTS: Of total, 86.19% of participants were female; 86.67% were aged under 55 years; 11% were physicians and 64.19% were nurses or auxiliaries; 77.62% have themselves tested positive for Covid-19; and 67.94% of CHWs have directly treated patients with Covid-19. 49.28% had clinical depression; over half (58.57%) had clinical anxiety; 70.95% had clinical stress; and 28.57% had clinical insomnia. Increased use of tranquilizers/sedatives appears to be an explanatory variable of suffering greater anxiety, depression, stress and insomnia, and of having a worse HRQoL amongst our CHWs. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms that symptomatology of anxiety, depression, stress, insomnia and HRQoL were affected amongst CHWs during the Covid-19 pandemic.