Is Work Stress Causing Your Back Pain? Study Reveals Surprising Link

If you're dealing with lower back pain, you’re not alone. A study published in the journal PAIN explored whether work-related stress is linked to chronic lower back pain. The research followed 1,733 participants over four years, all of whom were pain-free at the start.

Participants were asked to report on the intensity of their back pain, how frequently it occurred, and whether it interfered with their daily activities. At the same time, researchers assessed the participants’ levels of work stress — specifically, how much effort they put in at work versus how much recognition or reward they received in return.

The results were striking: nearly a quarter of participants (24.8%) developed chronic lower back pain during the study period. Those who reported an imbalance between their efforts and the rewards they received were significantly more likely to experience frequent and severe chronic back pain. Interestingly, individuals with high commitment to their jobs were also more likely to suffer from persistent lower back issues.

The researchers concluded that job stress may increase the risk of developing chronic lower back pain. They suggested that reducing stress in the workplace could potentially help prevent or relieve back pain. However, they also emphasized that while the study found a clear correlation between work stress and back pain, it didn’t definitively prove that stress is the direct cause. Other contributing factors may also play a role, and further research is needed.