RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALEXITHYMIA AND MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN, JOB STRESS, JOB AND LIFE SATISFACTION IN YOUNG ACADEMICIANS WORKING IN THE FIELD OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the relationship between alexithymia and musculoskeletal pain, job stress, job and life satisfaction in young academicians. Methods: Ninety-three young academicians (73 females; mean age=29.50 +/- 5.33 years) were included. The prevalence of alexithymia was assessed with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 items (TAS-20). Musculoskeletal pain and pain intensity were evaluated by the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRS). The job stress, job, and life satisfaction were investigated by the Perceived Job Stress Scale (PJSS), the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MNQ) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SLS), respectively. Results: The prevalence of alexithymia (TAS-20 score >60) in all participants was 15%. There was no significant difference in NMQ, NRS, PJSS, MNQ, and SLS between low-, middle- and high-normal alexithymia subgroups (p>0.05). The NMQ analysis indicated that approximately 39.8% of the participants had musculoskeletal pain; the prevalence of pain was higher in the neck (73.1%), low back (63.4%) and shoulder (55.9%) regions. The TAS-20 was not correlated with NMQ, PJSS, MNQ, and SLS (p>0.05). There was a negative correlation between pain intensity at rest and SLS (r=-0.324, p=0.015). In addition, the pain intensity during activity was correlated with PJSS (r=0.268, p=0.035) and SLS (r=-0317, p=0.017). Conclusion: Alexithymia was not related to musculoskeletal pain, job stress, and job and life satisfaction in young academicians. However, increased pain intensity related to decreased life satisfaction and increased perceived job stress level. Therefore, the high prevalence of pain in the neck, low back and shoulder should not be ignored by young academicians.