Association between Psychological Stress and Neck Pain among Telecommuter's: A Questionnaire Based Cross Sectional Survey

Background: Neck pain is one of the most reported musculoskeletal disorders. It is a major cause of illness that predisposes people to experience neck pain, making them a high-risk group for the development of any neck disorders. It causes greater physical, social and emotional impact on the patient's well being. In telecommuter's, the risk of leading a sedentary lifestyle, an excessive amount of screen time increases. Approximately 30 percent of patients develop musculoskeletal complications that interfered with their level of comfort. The Neck Disability Index (NDI) is a self-reported questionnaire used to determine how neck pain affects a patient's daily life and to assess the self-rated disability of patients with neck pain. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) is a measure of the degree to which situations in one's life are appraised as stressful. The NUMERICAL PAIN RATING SCALE is a subjective measure in which individuals rate their pain on a numerical scale. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess neck pain among telecommuter associated with psychological stress. Objective: To determine neck pain with Neck Disability Index (NDI) questionnaire. To determine stress with Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) questionnaire. To determine neck pain with Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Selection Criteria: Inclusion criteria-Telecommuter, having neck pain in the past 1 month, age group 25 to 35years, both males and females, work related sitting greater than3h/day. Exclusion criteria-Neck surgery, patients having any history of psychological or psychiatric disorders, patients with history of fracture or dislocations of neck, on medications related to neck pain or stress. Methodology: 75 telecommuters was taken from Ahmedabad city and study duration was 1 month. Procedure: The Neck Disability Index, Perceived Stress Scale and Numerical Pain rating scale was taken as in a Google form. After that patient was screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria those patients who was meeting the inclusion criteria was included in the study. Written online consent form was obtained after explanation. The correlation was found between Neck Disability Index Scale and Perceived Stress Scale, Numerical Pain Rating Scale and Neck Disability Index Scale using Pearson's test. Results: Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. The mean age of patients was (29.02�4.01) with involvement of 37 males and 38 females. Correlation of the Neck Disability Index Scale and Perceived Stress Scale, Numerical Pain Intensity Scale and Neck Disability Index Scale was found. Mean of NDI were 2.6 (SD=1.52), PSS were 1.28 (SD=0.16), NPRS were 6.6 (SD=2.4). The correlation between PSS and NDI was compared p=less than0.001. The correlation between NDI and NPRS was compared p=less than0.001. Discussion: This study examined the correlation between NDI and PSS, NDI and NPRS. It was found that there is correlation between NDI, PSS and NPRS. The results of the current study indicate that sitting for more than three hours a day that in a sustained awkward position is a risk factor for the development of neck pain. Conclusion: It was found that there is a correlation between psychological stress and neck pain among telecommuter's. There is association between psychological stress and neck pain which affects the telecommuter and can severe the neck pain or any neck related condition. Limitation: Study has smaller sample size. The cross-sectional, self-reported nature of the study constituted another limitation, as reporting may have been affected by current emotions or cognitions.