Recurring pain and the potential of employer support to improve participant health

Objective: This study describes the relationships between a set of workplace psychosocial factors, including health-related employer support and recurring pain.

Methods: This study used a pooled sample of participants from 14 US employers (N = 34,359) from 2010 (for one employer, 2008). Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the relationships, after controlling for many additional factors.

Results: Emotional, but not physical, healthrelated employer support was associated with reduced probability of pain. Job satisfaction, getting to use strengths at work, and having a supervisor who created a trusting and open environment were also associated with a reduced probability of pain.

Conclusions: Although more research is needed to firmly establish the causal nature of the relationships, psychosocialworkplace factors were associated with reduced probability of pain in this study.