Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Association with Depression Among Supportive Staff at Private Sector Universities of Peshawar

Abstract

Background: Musculoskeletal pain and depression often coexist; depression is typified by a persistent sense of sadness, a lack of interest, and the possibility of functional impairment. Due to physical strain and demanding work environments, supportive staff who are crucial to the effectiveness of organizations, frequently experience severe pressures like anxiety, depression, and mental health disorders. Objective: To determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and their association with depression among supportive staff at private sector universities of Peshawar. Methodology: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected at a single point in time from participants in private sector universities of Peshawar. Male participants aged 18-60 years with at least one year of experience were included, while those with a history of major trauma or psychiatric drug use were excluded. Data were collected using the standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, which assessed the prevalence and effects of musculoskeletal disorders, and the Patient Health Questionnaire, which measured the severity of depression. Ethical approval was obtained from the Departmental Research Committee of Allied Health Sciences, City University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar, and informed consent was taken from all participants, guaranteeing confidentiality, voluntary participation, and adherence to ethical principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, and autonomy. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages) and cross-tabulation to explore association, and inferential statistics, including chi-square tests, and logistic regression to assess relationships between musculoskeletal disorders and depression among supportive staff. Results: All participants provided their informed consent, ensuring ethical approval and guaranteeing confidentiality and compliance with ethical standards. According to the results, 19.9% had high musculoskeletal symptoms and 42.2% had moderate symptoms. The prevalence of depression was also noteworthy, with 10.4% reporting moderate depression and 39.8% reporting mild depression. Conclusion: Depression and musculoskeletal symptom severity were found to be statistically significantly correlated (p<0.00). Higher musculoskeletal scores were a predictor of greater depression severity, according to regression analysis.