Patrón de conducta tipo A, estrés ocupacional y síntomas musculoesqueletales en empleados de cuello blanco

Musculoskeletal disorders have a multifactorial etiology, where not only physical factors, but also psychosocial ones in the workplace interact with the individual characteristics and psychological demands of employees, predisposing them to the development of such conditions. Because not all people will respond in the same way to the stressors that affect them, the relationship between the Type A behavior pattern, occupational stress and musculoskeletal symptoms was investigated. The study design was cross-correlational and the statistical analysis was carried out using Pearson's correlation (p < .05), Student's t test and multiple linear regression. 100 white-collar employees from the public sector from southern Puerto Rico participated, selected by availability. PCTA predominated, the anatomical regions with the highest symptomatic frequency were: neck, shoulders, upper and lower back; and the level of occupational stress reported was low average. A statistically significant relationship was found between PCTA, occupational stress and musculoskeletal symptoms; not so between occupational stress and symptoms. Differences were reported between employees with PCTA and PCTB and the results of the regression model indicate that the independent variables explain about 7% of the variability of symptoms. It is concluded that the sample of white-collar employees who exhibit PCTA have a higher incidence of suffering from pain, discomfort or numbness in the region of the neck and upper back and are more prone and susceptible to stress.